What Are Pinched Nerves?
When someone has a pinched nerve, it means that a nerve is being pinched or compressed by bones, muscles, or ligaments. When a nerve is pinched, it can be painful, and the function of the nerve can be impaired.
The brain and body communicate via electrical signals. Signals tell your brain what your body senses and your brain sends signals telling your body how to respond. Your brain also communicates via these signals to regulate all of the body's functions, major and minor. These signals travel along nerves, so when nerves are pinched or damaged it can interfere with the flow of those signals and cause all kinds of problems.
Signs and Symptoms of Pinched Nerves
The most common, most noticeable symptom of a pinched nerve is pain. The vast majority of pinched nerves occur around the spine, and most of the time it will be in the area of the upper cervical spine. This is the part of the spine that is found in the neck and upper back.
The pain associated with pinched nerves can vary. Some people may feel an ache; others may experience a sharp jolt of pain when they move the wrong way.
A pinched nerve can cause muscle weakness and fatigue, which can be debilitating. In more serious cases, pinched nerves can cause a numb or tingly feeling in the shoulders, arms, legs, hands, or feet. This sensation is sometimes called "pins and needles" because it may feel like thousands of sharp pricks. Some people may get the sensation of an extremity or limb that feels like it is "falling asleep."
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Pinched Nerves
The upper cervical spine is prone to pinch nerves because it is so vulnerable. A jolt to the head or neck, such as when in a fender bender or playing rough sports, can cause a misalignment of the vertebrae that pinches a nerve. Poor posture can also lead to misalignments.
When the vertebrae in the upper cervical spine are misaligned, it can have a domino effect of sorts going down the rest of the spine. As the body tries to unconsciously shift to compensate for one misalignment, the postural shift can cause undue stress on other vertebrae, joints, muscles, and ligaments. This can result in additional pinched nerves or other health problems.
How Our Upper Cervical Spine Treatment Works
Dr. Gordon Elder is an expert in the Blair Chiropractic Technique. This technique combines modern technology and gentle manipulations to help correct misalignments of the spine, alleviating the pain and health problems caused by pinched nerves. Once the spine is properly aligned, the body can begin healing and nerves can resume proper functioning.
Dr. Elder begins your treatment with a screening to examine the spine for misalignments. Using advanced 3D imaging tools, the doctor can pinpoint problem areas to eliminate the guesswork and apply corrections to precise areas of concern. This allows the doctor to apply more effective adjustments with gentle pressure.
In follow-up appointments, Dr. Elder will check to ensure the alignment remains intact. Once the spine is aligned it will jumpstart the body's healing processes, reducing inflammation and restoring nerve function, so you should feel continued improvement. After treatments are complete, the doctor recommends regular checkups to nip any future problems in the bud.
The Blair Chiropractic Technique offers a safe, non-invasive, drug-free way to deal with pinched nerves. Don't suffer longer than you need to; contact Dr. Elder for a consultation. We provide service to patients in Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.