A nerve can become pinched by surrounding tissues. The pressure then increases, preventing the nerve from doing its job properly. The most common symptoms are pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. It can interfere with your daily activities. At TOPCHIRO, we can help you reduce or even eliminate nerve entrapment.
In this article, you will learn more about how nerve entrapment occurs and what our chiropractors can do.
How can nerve entrapment occur?
A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissue presses against it for a long time. This tissue can be bone, cartilage, a tendon or a muscle, for example. This can damage the nerve and prevent it from properly transmitting signals to the body. Nerve entrapment can occur throughout the body, but especially in the neck, spine, wrist or elbow.
Risk factors
Poor posture of the neck or back, repetitive movements which can cause tissue irritation, sitting in the same position for long periods of time or suffering an injury such as a bone fracture or sprain contribute to the development of nerve entrapment. The pressure that can result from problems with the intervertebral discs in the spine is also a risk factor. If a nerve is pinched for a short time, no permanent damage to the nerve usually occurs. Chronic pain and permanent damage occur with prolonged pressure.
How can a chiropractor fix nerve entrapment?
A chiropractor treats musculoskeletal disorders to restore the functioning of the nervous system. The mode of care involves the muscles, spine, nerves, joints and brain. The focus is on the cause of the problem and restoring your overall health.
A personalized care plan
Prior to treatment, the chiropractor will talk with you about the symptoms you are experiencing and discuss various aspects of your daily life, such as your home situation and work. A personalized care plan will be created based on a scan and examination results. This plan consists of three phases: an intensive, a stabilization and a maintenance phase. The treatment incorporates your own wishes and goals. Treatment
Treatment
Nerve entrapment can have multiple causes, so treatment varies from person to person. In most cases, a chiropractor attempts to relieve nerve entrapment by applying manual pressure to the points of the body where the entrapment is located. In that spot, mobility increases, making room for the pinched nerve.
The manual pressure applied by a chiropractor is also known as “cracking.” However, this term is incorrect. During treatment, you may hear a sound. This is caused by the escape of air/gas from the joint. The chiropractor performs quick, controlled movements that safely reduce pain. This treatment method is mainly used during the intensive phase.
During the stabilization phase, the focus is on the muscles using massages and mobilization exercises. The exercises strengthen the muscles.
Prevention
In addition to the intensive and stabilization phases, the maintenance phase is also an important part of treatment. This phase focuses on the prevention of complaints in the future. For example, for nerve entrapment, it is important to have good positioning and take frequent breaks during repetitive activities. It is also important to include exercises in your daily exercise program. The chiropractor will give you advice on this.
We are happy to help you
Do you have symptoms consistent with nerve entrapment and are curious about treatment with one of our chiropractors? At TOPCHIRO, you are most welcome! If you would like to make an appointment or have some questions first, feel free to contact any of our offices. Making an appointment can also be done directly through our website.
