Trapped Nerves and Why They Cause Pain

February 20, 2022

Trapped Nerves, Can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve

The pain caused by trapped nerves can be quite challenging to ignore. It can also cause extreme discomfort that might affect how you spend your entire day. As a result, it’s not surprising why thousands of people have many questions about a trapped nerve. Some of these queries include "can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve?” and "why are trapped nerves painful?”.

  

Understanding Trapped Nerves and Their Root Causes

We strongly recommend reading through our discussion below if you have similar questions about trapped nerves. Hopefully, it can provide you with valuable insights to help you achieve a pain-free life. 

Trapped nerves are precisely how you would imagine them to be: nerve roots trapped or compressed between two tissues. The affected nerves either misfire or transmit excessive signals to the brain, causing you to experience amplified pain. In most cases, this painful and crippling nerve problem can arise from any of the following: 

  • Cervical subluxation
  • Spinal arthritis 
  • Head, neck, or spine trauma
  • Spine alignment problems because of pregnancy or childbirth 
  • Tech neck 
  • Postural problems (Slouching, lordosis, scoliosis, etc.)
  • Obesity
  • Herniated or slipped discs
  • Repetitive neck, shoulder, or back 
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Thyroid problems

Notably, you can eliminate the pain once you successfully address the root cause of your trapped nerve. Various remedies can help speed up the process and ensure a smooth recovery. However, it’s crucial to tap into the correct relief option as soon as possible to prevent worsening symptoms and limit your risks for developing nerve-related disorders.

 

Trapped Nerves and How They Affect the Body 

Nerve entrapment can affect several body parts, depending on where the pinching or compression occurred. For example, you will likely develop sciatica if you have a trapped sciatic nerve. To help you understand its impact on your body, here’s a list of conditions that may result from a trapped nerve:

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Some studies refer to this nerve problem as median nerve compression, primarily because of the affected nerve. It can cause severe wrist pain and arm or hand weakness. 

Cervical neuropathy

Cervical neuropathy mainly impacts the shoulders and the rest of the upper back. The pain stems from an irritated nerve in the cervical spine which usually develops because of neck bone misalignments, neck trauma, and cervical disc herniation. 

Occipital neuralgia

This type of neuralgia is quite rare because it affects 3 out of 100,000 patients. It can cause problems like light sensitivity, dull headache, and eye pain when triggered. 

Trigeminal neuralgia

This nerve problem affects the trigeminal nerve. Essentially this nerve bundle supplies sensation to your facial muscles and transmits signals concerning pain, pressure, and temperature changes.   

trapped nerves, Can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve

 

 

 

 

 

Cubital tunnel syndrome

The cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve, which regulates arm muscle movements. When compressed, it can lead to arm and elbow pain. Additionally, it can cause your hand, arm, and elbow to fall asleep or lose sensation for a brief period. 

Intercostal neuralgia

While it’s is not as common as the rest of the nerve-related problems above, it can cause noticeable pain when you breathe. The pain and discomfort can also worsen when you blow your nose or sneeze. 

Is it Possible for Trapped Nerves to Heal On Their Own? 

Besides asking, “can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve?” many patients wonder if their symptoms can disappear without seeking additional help. Naturally, this happens because some individuals prefer to wait for their body to heal independently instead of tapping into upper cervical or invasive options like surgery. 

There isn’t a straightforward way to answer this question. That’s because each patient has a different history. Some might succeed in experiencing lasting relief after getting enough rest. On the other hand, others might need to receive upper cervical adjustments or undergo a surgical procedure like microdiscectomy.

At this point, we suggest getting a thorough diagnosis from your doctor or physio to learn which of the remedies below might work best for you. 

  • Upper cervical chiropractic care 
  • Injection therapy
  • Ice and heat therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Ample bed rest
  • OTC nerve pain relievers
  • Surgical removal of the tissue compressing your nerve roots

 

Can A Chiropractor Fix A Pinched Nerve?

Having a pinched or trapped nerve can be an overwhelming problem, especially if the symptoms keep recurring or if the root cause remains unresolved. This is why it helps to explore remedies that provide short-term relief and aim to address the problem once and for all. One example of a natural pinched nerve remedy you can try is upper cervical care. 

It’s an effective chiropractic method that aims to eliminate postural imbalances in the cervical spine. The procedure involves several steps, including analyzing your medical history, checking your neck bone structure, and observing other physical signs of vertebral misalignments.  

Then, depending on the specific protocol used by your chosen upper cervical chiropractic physician, you might need to sit on a chair or lay on an adjustment table to receive the adjustments. The doctors might use their hand or an adjustment gun, depending on the specific protocol or technique they have specialized in. You should also expect your upper cervical doctor to provide patient care tips to help you maintain the adjustments provided. 

Want to learn more about the top patient FAQ, “can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve?” Make sure to schedule a visit to the nearest upper cervical doctor and get your neck bones checked for cervical subluxation.

 

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.

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