A pinched nerve can happen from something as simple as crossing your legs for too long. This relatively common experience is often identified as your leg or foot “falling asleep” and is actually an example of a mild case of a pinched nerve. While this type of pinched nerve case tends to go away on its own once you reposition or stand up, there are other cases of pinched nerves where they don’t just go away. Pinched nerves can also cause other issues that affect your nervous system and musculoskeletal system, and your chiropractor in Jonesboro can help.
What Causes a Pinched Nerve?
While crossing your legs while seated might be a common cause of a pinched nerve, there are many other causes that can occur in your daily life. Here are six examples of what can lead to a pinched nerve.
Misalignments
Your spine actually houses the nervous system, which is an interconnected series of nerves that send signals through to the rest of your body. The vertebrae in your spine are designed to support this structure, but when one or more vertebrae become misaligned it can cause disruptions. A vertebra that is slightly out of place can put increased pressure on a nearby nerve, which causes a pinched nerve.
Poor Posture
If you find yourself slouching or hunched over a computer all day then you may develop poor posture. When we hunch our bodies, it can cause an unnatural curve in the spine from the neck and through the back. This can lead to misalignments in the spine and weakened back muscles. When back muscles are weakened, they may not properly support healthy posture and can even become susceptible to injury.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is also known as a slipped disc and refers to the spinal discs that separate each of the vertebrae in your spine. When a spinal disc slips out of place it can put excessive pressure on a nearby nerve or nerves. This type of aggravation can affect the nerve’s functioning and even lead to shooting pains into your extremities.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of overuse injury that affects the hand and wrist. This can develop from writing, typing, and other daily, repetitive motions that cause hand and wrist pain. The carpal tunnel is a space in the wrist that houses the median nerve, and when the muscles in your hand and wrist swell it can compress or squeeze the nerve.
Arthritis
Arthritis is another example of how a pinched nerve is caused by inflammation. Arthritis refers to inflammation that occurs in your joints and the surrounding soft tissues. When swelling occurs, nearby nerves may become compressed and cause pain and tingling. The most common example of this is rheumatoid arthritis and commonly affects the hands, wrists, elbows, and knees.
Nerve Damage
In severe cases, a compressed nerve may also become severely damaged, like in the event of a car accident or a blunt-force trauma. A nerve that is constantly pinched or compressed can lead to chronic pain and even permanent nerve damage.
Pinched Nerve Treatment Options
In the mildest cases, a pinched nerve may resolve on its own once the pressure is relieved and nerve functioning can return to normal. However, with moderate to severe pinched nerves, you may need to visit a doctor for more comprehensive pain relief. You may notice the symptoms get worse with certain movements, or the pain gradually gets worse over the course of a few days or weeks and won’t go away. For a more conservative, non-invasive approach, your chiropractor in Jonesboro can provide you with safe, gentle adjustments and other chiropractic techniques to get to the root cause of the issue.
In order to experience both short-term and long-term relief from pinched nerve pain and discomfort, your chiropractor will need to relieve the pressure off of the pinched or compressed nerve. Through a physical exam, your chiropractor will identify the location of the pinched nerve. Diagnostic imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan may help provide more visualization of the area and also help determine the severity. When a pinched nerve is caused by a spinal misalignment or a herniated disc, your chiropractor may use chiropractic adjustments to restore proper posture and alignment. If caused by inflammation or swelling in the area, chiropractic care involves conservative, therapeutic methods without the use of medications or needles.
Visit AICA Orthopedics for a chiropractor in Jonesboro who can help you experience lasting relief from your pinched nerve.