A pinched nerve can occur in many areas of the body, all causing severe disruption to daily life. One of the most common places seen with a pinched nerve is the neck. Most pinched nerves in the neck are avoidable and temporary but persistent symptoms require treatment. Pinched nerve treatment can vary based on severity and placement of the nerve but chiropractors at RxWellness Spine & Health are experts on how to treat a pinched nerve in your neck. Pinched nerves especially in the neck respond well to chiropractic treatment allowing for pain to be reduced and the source to be identified for future avoidance.
What are some common causes of a pinched nerve in your neck?
Before talking about how to treat a pinched nerve in your neck, first you need to learn the causes this ailment. A pinched nerve can be extremely painful and hinder normal movement. It can make a person less mobile and trouble sitting or standing for periods of time. When pressure is put on a nerve, warning signals are sent to the brain. Now when a nerve is pinched that pathway is damaged and signals cannot be sent, which is why a numbness or tingling sensation is most common.
Nerves are super vulnerable and travel through narrow, soft tissue spaces to protect them. Nerve compression occurs when a nerve is pressed between tissues such as ligaments, tendons, or bone. This compression can be a result of inflammation from other areas on the body which is why a comprehensive treatment like a chiropractic adjustment can sort out where the pressure is stemming from. Possible pinched nerve neck causes chiropractors at RxWellness see are:
- Misalignment of a vertebrae that compresses a nerve cutting off the communication process to the brain.
- Disc degeneration can cause a pinched nerve as a disc starts to degenerate making the space a nerve travels through in the spine even smaller.
- Disc protrusion and herniation pushes against the nerve.
A pinched nerve can be a simple result of daily habits like sitting, standing, walking or posture but can also be a result of something more serious like a herniated disc, bone spurs, arthritis, or a sports injury. Repetitive motions or actions that all these movements cause just continue to add that extra pressure and weight on an already damaged area.
What are the symptoms and how to treat a pinched nerve in your neck?
Pinched nerve treatment varies very much like the different symptoms in the body caused by a pinched nerve. These symptoms can fluctuate from pain to numbness. When a nerve is pinched in the neck, common symptoms include tingling, burning, numbness and many times severe pain. It is common to hear people describe the sensation as constant ‘pins and needles’ or like the area has fallen asleep. These symptoms tend to flare up when lying down or waking up in the morning.
Severe symptoms left untreated require medical attention immediately. A pinched nerve can impact the bladder, create an inability to grip objects or even cause an area of the body to give out.
Though there are at home remedies on how to treat a pinched nerve in your neck, we recommend to go see a chiropractor. Chiropractors are trained and have the tools to help you relieve the pain from a pinched nerve.
Pinched nerve treatment at RxWellness Spine & Health in Clarendon-Arlington, VA
While at home remedies can reduce the immediate pain of a pinched nerve, pinched nerve treatment is best delivered by a professional. If pain continues after a few days of rest, it is best to seek a professional such as our expert chiropractors at RxWellness. The difficult part of treating a pinched nerve is finding the source. Pain and symptoms can radiate and travel to other parts of the body but not be the actual site. Chiropractic treatment addresses the source of problem and through spinal manipulation and adjustments can fix the pinched nerve. When the body is aligned, additional pressure put on the nerve can be released. Varying pinched nerve treatment plans are required and RxWellness in Arlington specializes in neck pain relief through natural therapies and additional care services.
- Cervical Manipulation (Neck Adjustment): This adjustment is a precise force directly on the neck joints to loosen the joints. This hands-on spinal and soft tissue work help realign the spine, taking off the pressure on the nerve. The smooth movement helps increase motion that may have been restricted.
- Massage Therapy: Our massage therapists at RxWellness decrease muscle tension allowing for an easier adjustment. This therapy can prepare the tissue for a full mobilization of the joint below it.
- Dry Needling: Dry needling involves small thin needles that are inserted into soft tissue to release tension built up at trigger points. These needles help increase blood flow and reduce pain.
- Cupping: Cupping involves a heated glass applied on the skin to help stimulate blood flow through suction. Reduction of pain and inflammation produce similar results to a deep tissue massage.
RxWellness Spine & Health prides itself on providing wellness in the workplace and caring for patients in all stages of pain. Through drug-free, non-surgical treatments, our chiropractors can help patients reduce discomfort, prevent injuries, and live a pain free life. Look to our experts on how to treat a pinched nerve in your neck. If you are in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington VA book a consultation with our chiropractic facility today! Call our office at 703-904-9666 to make an appointment or request the appointment online at our website.
