There are an estimated seven trillion nerves in the human body…you read that right, TRILLION! With that many nerves, they must be important. The nervous system is the master control system of the body. Think of your nervous system as your circuit board. The brain and spinal cord (Central Nervous System) communicate with the rest of the body by sending signals to every organ and tissue through those seven trillion nerves. In turn, those nerves relay information back to the brain. Without a nervous system, there is no communication, so there is no life. A pinched nerve compromises those essential signals, degrading communication and diminishing overall bodily function.
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Exam includes in-depth whole-body analysis with provider, posture pictures and insight nervous system scans (provided if necessary). Consultation & plan of action will help you understand your care options.
Nerves become “pinched” when they are compressed or irritated by surrounding bone or tissue, such as vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, or ligaments. The purpose of the spine is to house and protect the spinal cord. The structure of the spine is like a suit of armor. However, no suit of armor is perfect. Misalignments of spinal bones (also called subluxations) are the most common cause of pinched nerves. When a nerve becomes compressed, it can cause pain at the site of irritation as well as pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling that radiates down the arms or legs, depending on where the nerve is compressed. If the pinched nerve feeds an organ or coordinates a bodily function, that organ or function will be compromised.
Identifying the specific location of a pinched nerve is the first step in correcting the problem. Doctors of Chiropractic are expertly trained to perform thorough examinations and identify the root cause of musculoskeletal conditions. Pinched nerves are one of the most common problems seen by chiropractors. Once a pinched nerve is identified, chiropractors are trained to perform a series of adjustments to restore proper spinal alignment and alleviate unnecessary pressure on nerves. This allows the body’s communication system to work more optimally and can result in reduced pain and better overall function.
How Our Pinched Nerve Relief Plan Works
1. Be Heard
And Understood
Quality time with a health professional, so you can be truly heard and understood, isn’t all that common. We understand that. This is why, on your first visit, you will meet with one of our doctors and share your health concerns and struggles so we can understand exactly why you are here and what you want to achieve. The doctor will determine what testing is necessary to find the source of your health concerns and answer the biggest question of all: Can Chiropractic Care Help?
2. Discover How We Can Help You
Every new patient should feel like they are making the right decision for their health. This is why our doctors explain what they are looking for in the testing, so our patients know exactly what is going on, instead of just being a bystander. We will share everything we discover from your testing and exams, including if we can help you. In the unfortunate event that we cannot help, our doctors will provide any additional resources they feel would be appropriate to assist you.
3. Achieve Your Health Goals Together
Whether you just want to be out of pain, or you want to get back to golfing without limitations, or you are desperate to get a restful night’s sleep, we will be with you every step of the way. We’ll achieve your goals
How We Address a Pinched Nerve in West Omaha, NE
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
At Family First Chiropractic, the first step to addressing a pinched nerve is to gather a comprehensive life and injury history of the patient. The chiropractor will ask a series of questions to determine the series of events that resulted in pain from pinched nerves. The chiropractor will also find out more about how the pinched nerve is affecting the patient’s ability to live the life they want.
Once the chiropractor has thoroughly reviewed the patient’s health history, the doctor can determine the types of clinical examinations needed to properly diagnose the root cause of the problem or symptoms. These examinations can include:
- Bio-structural analysis to assess current posture and possible nerve interference
- Range of motion testing to allow for clinical insight into the patient’s current state of movement
- Nervous system scan to record current levels of inflammation
- Static and motion palpation of the spine and other affected joints to discover joint fixation
- Necessary X-rays, which show the precise location of the vertebral misalignments
Completing a thorough history and examination is vital to discovering the root cause of the patient’s problem. This allows the chiropractor to determine the path of correction best suited for restoring proper spinal alignment and relieving pain and other symptoms.
Chiropractic Care For Pinched Nerve Relief in West Omaha, NE
Frequently, the history and examination performed by the chiropractor reveal that the patient’s symptoms are due to subluxations. A subluxation is a misaligned vertebra that causes pressure on the nervous system. When a person has a subluxation, there will be alterations in the function and flow of information throughout the nervous system. This can cause obvious changes like discomfort or decreased range of motion, or more subtle health problems such as complications with digestion, blood pressure changes, and even emotional issues.
Once it is confirmed that the patient’s symptoms are due to subluxation, the chiropractor can begin a series of spinal adjustments, with the goal of restoring proper spinal alignment. Adjustments restore nervous system function by removing nerve interference and increasing range of motion. Additionally, patients can experience a reduction in systemic inflammation and an increase in blood flow to surrounding musculature, which can aid in decreasing pain signals from nerve roots.
Many people experiencing pinched nerves pursue chiropractic care as a first line of relief. Chiropractic care is a less invasive approach focused on whole-body health. Patients appreciate that chiropractic adjustments have the potential to relieve symptoms without the use of drugs or surgery.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Along with designing a series of chiropractic adjustments to address pain from pinched nerves, the doctor may also include corrective exercises to strengthen the spine as it moves into a more optimal position. Corrective exercises are essential for nerve pain relief because they keep the body in motion, which reduces inflammation and pressure on the pinched nerves.
Corrective exercises focus on maintaining proper posture, which allows your spine to stay in a more optimal position, reducing the pressure on nerves from spinal bones that shift out of place. Corrective exercises may include stretches like the Cat/Cow yoga stretch, exercises that focus on strengthening the spine’s musculature, such as rowing exercises, or daily physical activity like walking.
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Common Causes of Pinched Nerves in West Omaha, NE
Subluxation
Subluxation is a misalignment of the spinal bones that can cause excess pressure on the nerves as they branch off from the spinal cord and exit between the vertebrae.
Subluxations can occur because of various stressors on the body, including chemical, mental, or physical. Often, a subluxation has no initial sensation. If it is present in the body for long enough, it can cause symptoms that range from general discomfort or stiffness to severe pain that radiates down the extremities.
Depending on the location and severity of the subluxation, symptoms can include a restriction of range of motion, debilitating pain, or even end-organ dysfunction.
Specific chiropractic adjustments are performed to return the vertebrae to their original position and restore their natural motion. Follow-up care and individual exercises can keep the segment in place over time.
Disc Bulge and Herniation
A disc bulge is when a vertebral disc, typically seated between two vertebrae, is pushed out to the side beyond the vertebral endplates. A disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc, is when excess pressure is put on a disc and creates a tear in the outer layer of the disc, causing the jelly-like center of the disc to leak.
Disc bulges and herniations occur from a misalignment of the vertebrae, causing excessive stress on the disc. Improper posture, poor lifting habits, and sedentary lifestyles also contribute to damage that can result in disc bulges or herniations. Depending on the location of the disc bulge or herniation, you can experience severe muscle spasms, radiation of pain toward the extremities, and debilitating pain.
The most conservative approach to correcting disc injuries is initially rest and specific chiropractic adjustments to restore the normal position and movement of the vertebrae. In severe cases of disc injuries, surgical intervention may be required.
Arthritis
Arthritis is the buildup of swelling and increased tenderness in one or more joints. There are multiple types of arthritis, with the most common being osteoarthritis, resulting from overuse and improper joint maintenance. Another type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, a congenital condition that must be diagnosed with blood tests. Because rheumatoid arthritis is a congenital condition, a person is highly likely to eventually experience symptoms during their lifetime. However, arthritic development from daily wear and tear on the body does not necessarily have to develop if joints are properly maintained over the lifetime.
Arthritis can be present without feeling any discomfort. Many individuals develop some degree of arthritis in their vertebral bodies after suffering from subluxations that were never corrected. Other common complaints from arthritis are stiffness, soreness, excessive swelling, or the feeling of heat in the joint.
Chiropractic care can help manage arthritis symptoms by restoring the proper position of the joints. This reduces swelling, increases range of motion, and keeps future degeneration from occurring.
Muscle Tension
Muscle tension or strain can affect nerve function by stretching nerve fibers beyond their normal position. It can also lead to increased inflammation and damage to the myelin nerve sheath that protects nerve fibers. Muscle strains or sprains from overuse or improper warmups prior to physical activity are the most common mechanisms of injury.
The best way to relieve muscle tension and restore function is to begin by refraining from the activity that initially caused the strain or sprain. It is critical to rest the strained muscles and use ice to reduce inflammation. After inflammation has been reduced, you can introduce rehabilitative exercises to strengthen and re-train the muscles.
Remember that a soft tissue injury’s recovery time can be 6-8 weeks, depending on the severity of the injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I see a doctor or a chiropractor for a pinched nerve?
Many people suffering from pinched nerves choose to see a chiropractor first because they want a more conservative approach to addressing their pain. Chiropractors are well-trained in diagnosing and caring for the root cause of pinched nerves in a noninvasive manner. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary, but it should only be explored as an option after all conservative care has been exhausted.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a pinched nerve?
The fastest way to get rid of a pinched nerve is to have your spine checked regularly by a chiropractor. Chiropractors are trained to locate pinched nerves and can deliver specific adjustments to decrease the pressure on the nerves as they exit the spine.
How do chiropractors know where to adjust?
Gonstead Chiropractors utilize extensive testing and X-ray analysis to pinpoint subluxations and nerve interference. This allows them to deliver precise adjustments targeted at restoring motion and function to the spine.
How long does it take for a pinched nerve to heal?
The healing process of a pinched nerve can vary from person to person, with symptoms improving from as little as a few days to as long as months. Factors that can affect the healing process include the mechanism of injury, severity of nerve compression, and the individual’s overall health.
What happens if you let a pinched nerve go untreated?
When left untreated, pinched nerves can get worse over time, leading to severe symptoms. Pinched nerves that go untreated for long periods can be more difficult to care for and take longer to correct than if they were addressed sooner.
How often should you see a chiropractor?
Every case is different, and every person heals differently. A chiropractor will develop a care plan specific to your needs. This plan may include multiple visits a week to correct the issue, which will become less frequent if you are consistent with care.
How do you fix a pinched nerve?
Pinched nerves are corrected with specific chiropractic adjustments designed to restore the natural motion and function of vertebrae. This relieves nerve pressure and relaxes the surrounding musculature, further decreasing inflammation and discomfort.
What does it feel like to pinch a nerve?
Pinched nerves can manifest in different ways, and symptoms can vary from person to person. The most common symptoms are pain, weakness, and/or paresthesia (numbness, tingling, burning) down the involved arm or leg. Symptoms depend on which nerves are involved, how the nerve is compressed, and how long the nerve has been pinched.
Book Your First Pinched Nerve Pain Relief Exam
Exam includes in-depth whole-body analysis with provider, posture pictures and insight nervous system scans (provided if necessary). Consultation & plan of action will help you understand your care options.