What Causes Pinched Nerves?

Dealing with a pinched nerve? Find out how chiropractic care can help.

Noticing tingling or numbness in your arms or legs? Are you experiencing shooting pain? If you are, you could be dealing with a pinched nerve. If you’ve been told that the only way to treat a pinched nerve is with surgery, know that our Cary, IL, chiropractor Dr. Alan Barthen can treat your pinched nerve with non-surgical treatment options.

What is a pinched nerve?

A pinched nerve, also referred to as a compressed nerve, occurs when tissue, muscle, tendons or ligaments press on the nerve, which can lead to these common symptoms,

• A sharping or burning pain that may radiate to other areas of the body
• Numbness
• Tingling (a “pins and needles” sensation is common)
• Weakness
• Stiffness
• Limited range of motion

If you’re dealing with a stiff neck or an aching back these issues could be caused by a pinched nerve. One of the most common pinched nerves is carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by a compressed nerve in the wrist. 

What causes a pinched nerve? 

There are several reasons why some people are more prone to pinched nerves than others. The most common causes of a pinched nerve include,

• Injuries
• Arthritis
• Repetitive movements
• Certain sports and physical activities
• Being overweight or obese

How is a pinched nerve treated? 

So, you think you have pinched nerves. Now what? Well, the next step is to turn to our Cary, IL, chiropractor to discuss treatment options. Luckily, there are several ways in which to treat a pinched nerve. They include,

• Resting the area as much as possible and avoiding certain repetitive movements that could exacerbate the nerve
• Providing you with ergonomic recommendations and ways to improve poor posture, which can be contributing to pinched nerves and other aches and pains
• Showing you gentle stretches you can do to help take some stress off the compressed nerve
• Altering between ice and heat to reduce inflammation, swelling and pain
• Getting regular chiropractic adjustments that can realign the spine and help take pressure off the irritated nerves

Spinal adjustments can also improve range of motion, reduce pain and swelling, reduce tension and prevent pinched nerves in the future. It can also speed up the recovery process.

If you are interested in learning more about the chiropractic services we offer in Cary, IL, including how to treat pinched nerves, call Cary Disc Center at (847) 639-0010 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Barthen.