How Chiropractic Care Can Help Nerve Pain

Nerve pain is not only uncomfortable, but it can get in the way of being able to move and even think as you normally would.  While it's not uncommon for people to experience some nerve pain at some point in their lifetime, it doesn't mean that you should suffer for the rest of your life! Fortunately, many chiropractic treatments can help reduce nerve pain and get you back to feeling better. 

What is Nerve Pain?

It's important to understand the details of nerve pain to get the help you need. Nerve pain is different from the type of pain that you may feel in your muscles. In fact, nerve pain isn’t usually described as painful, but instead described as numbing, burning, or tingling. For some people, it may be easy to ignore the earliest signs of pain, especially if it's minor. However, we want you to be as aware as possible, so we work to keep you informed about all the details regarding nerve pain.

First, let's take a look at the types of nerves in the body. They include:

• Sensory Nerves: Sensory nerves work to relay messages from your spinal cord and brain back to your muscles. 
• Motor Nerves: Motor nerves control movements by sending signals from your spinal cord and brain to your muscles.
• Autonomic Nerves: This type of nerves control involuntary body functions and movements such as heart rate or digestion. 

Causes of Nerve Pain

There are many different causes of nerve pain. Understanding more about the underlying cause can help your chiropractor identify the best treatment moving forward.

Physical Injury or Trauma

Nerve pain is sometimes caused by slips and falls, sports injuries, or soft tissue damage. If the nerve is damaged due to injury or trauma, then you'll likely feel pain. The level of pain may vary based on the severity of the trauma.

Blood or Vascular Problems 

Lower levels of oxygen in the blood can lead to nerve pain. This is why it's very important to stop smoking if you currently do. 

Other Health Issues

Other health issues can also be the cause of nerve pain. Two of the most common issues that chiropractors deal with are sciatica and pinched nerves. 

• Sciatica: Sciatica is pain that radiates through your legs and lower back. Usually, sciatica is a result of a herniated disc or bone spurs that press along the spine. 
• Pinched Nerve: Pinched nerves are a result of too much pressure applied to nerves near surrounding tissue. Pinched nerves usually occur in the lower back or neck. The disruption to the nerve can cause a variety of symptoms, including pain. 
• Diabetic Neuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage, usually in your legs or feet,  that occurs when you have diabetes. The damage to the nerves happens due to high blood sugar levels.  

How Do You Know If Your Pain is Nerve Pain?

While pain is one of the most noticeable signs that there’s a problem, there are other signs to watch out for. You may be surprised to learn that nerve pain can come with a host of other symptoms that lets you know that something isn't quite right with your body.  Other nerve pain symptoms include:

• Burning sensation
• Muscle weakness
• Limited range of motion
• Twitching
• Excessive sweating
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Headaches
• Tingling
• Stabbing pain

Of course, each person is different, and you may not experience all of these symptoms. It's important to let your chiropractor know if you notice any sudden changes in your body and its function. 

Chiropractic Treatment Options for Nerve Pain

When you live with nerve pain, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to finding a treatment solution. Fortunately, there are chiropractic treatments that can help relieve nerve pain. Some of the common treatment options include: 

• Spinal Adjustment: Spinal adjustment refers to a technique used by a professional chiropractor to manipulate the spine. Your chiropractor may use their hands or a small device to apply force to the spine to improve its overall function. There are many benefits to spinal adjustment, including reducing pain and improving various conditions. 
• Cold Laser Therapy: Cold laser therapy uses a wavelength of light to enhance the healing process of the muscles and tendons around the nerve that may be pinched. Chiropractors often use this method for treating pain and swelling while improving overall function and range of motion. As the muscles in the area begin to repair and relax, the extra pressure on the nerves can also stop the nerve pain.
• Spinal Decompression: Spinal decompression is a chiropractic method that works to stretch the spine. At Village Chiropractic, you will be scheduled for several visits over the course of a few weeks so as to stretch the spine slowly. We use the Back on Trac spinal traction technology to provide lower back pain relief.

Receive Help with Your Nerve Pain

Village Chiropractic offers patient-centered treatment options for people who want relief from nerve pain and improve their overall function. If you've been suffering from nerve pain, know that you don't have to just learn to live with it. Starting out with these chiropractic treatments helps many people avoid extensive use of medications and even delay or avoid surgery. Please schedule an appointment at our office in The Woodlands to learn more about our nerve pain treatment options. We look forward to working with you to relieve your uncomfortable symptoms.