Can a Chiropractor Help with a Pinched Nerve?

If you are or have suffered from a pinched nerve before you will know all too well how uncomfortable it is. I pinched a nerve in my neck last year and went through a few weeks of agony. My immediate thought was, ‘can a chiropractor help with a pinched nerve in my neck’?

The answer is yes, I was able to find a really good chiropractor and healed the pinched nerve through stretching exercises they showed me. I’ve since discussed my experience with several people and realized this problem is more common than I realised.

I figured I’d write this post and hopefully help others by explaining what a pinched nerve actually is and how you can heal up. If you have a pinched nerve causing you daily discomfort you don’t have to live in pain, you have options!

What Is a Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve develops when a nerve is put under too much pressure from the tendons, bones, muscles, cartilage, and tissues surrounding the nerve. It prohibits the nerve from functioning properly and causes the pain, tingling, and numbness as a result.

You can have a pinched nerve in lots of different locations across the body. One of the worst parts is that they can cause pain and discomfort over large areas sometimes. Pinched nerves in the back for example can cause your whole back to hurt, your neck, and even cause numbness in your arms.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve

Symptoms include the following:

• Numbness in areas of your body
• Sharp pains and a long aching pain
• Pins-and-needles or other similar sensations
• Weakness in the affected areas

It’s normal for these symptoms to be worse at night too. This is often the first sign someone will notice they have a pinched nerve with symptoms progressive getting worse.

Check out my post on essential oils for neuropathy to find a natural way to relieve the pain and tingling from neuropathy.

How to Treat and Cure a Pinched Nerve

There are a few ways to treat a pinched nerve and reduce the pain you’re feeling. You don’t have to rush to the chiropractor right away, you may be able to resolve the pinched nerve yourself. Here are some things to try:

Rest the Affected Areas

If a certain area of your body is being affected by the pinched nerve and you can take the pressure off it, you should do so. If a pinched nerve in your arm is causing pain and numbness in your hand for example rest that hand as much as possible.

Sometimes the swelling and discomfort will go down and the pressure on the nerve will be relieved. This will reduce the symptoms and in many cases the pain will go away within a few days.

Sleep and Rest More

Our bodies heal faster when we’re resting and sleeping. If you’re suffering from a pinched nerve and you want the pain to stop then make time to sleep more and give your body a chance to repair the injury.

Try Using Heat or Ice Packs

Swelling is usually part of the pressure on the nerve. Ice can help to reduce swelling, while heat is effective at loosening and relieving pain in the muscles. You can combine this with extra rest and relaxation by having a hot bath, or sleeping with warm sports injury pack on the nerve if it’s comfortable to do so.

Massage the Area Causing the Pain

Massage therapy is one of the best ways to get your body to respond to injuries like pinched nerves. Massage relaxes the muscles and tissues, as well as increasing blood flow and stimulating your body to heal quicker.

Use Medication

Always check with your doctor or local pharmacy, but you will typically be prescribed anti-inflammatories and painkillers to help with a pinched nerve. If the pain is unbearable this will help you go about your day easier but you still need to rest up.

See a Chiropractor

Chiropractors can help with the exact stretches and exercises needed to help heal the pinched nerve. They are skilled in finding the exact cause, and how it’s affecting the rest of your body.

Precautions

Obviously, I’m not a doctor or a qualified healthcare professional. The above is the best advice I’ve been able to find through research and talking with people who have had pinched nerves. I used a chiropractor to deal with my pinched nerve and they resolved the issue with stretching exercises.

If you have persistent issues you need to seek medical advice right away. You should only try and treat a pinched nerve yourself if you feel comfortable doing so and start seeing positive results.