Is There a Nonsurgical Way to Treat a Pinched Nerve?

Pinched nerve pain warns your body about a compressed nerve. Even if the pain is only temporary, you should get a diagnosis to avoid permanent damage.

Our knowledgeable team, led by expert chiropractor Andrew Dube, DC, provides nonsurgical solutions for nerve pain at Apollo Chiropractic in Manhattan, New York City.  

What causes a pinched nerve?

Although you may not know how you got a pinched nerve, you’re certainly aware of the pain it inflicts. A pinched nerve generally occurs when an area such as your bones, muscles, cartilage, or tendons compresses a nerve, resulting in pain, tingling, and/or numbness.

Causes include:

• Traumatic injury
• Ongoing strain in a particular area
• Bone spurs from arthritis
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Inflammation that puts pressure on a nerve

Overuse injuries from repetitive activities can also lead to this condition, especially if the task involves poor posture or ergonomics.

Common locations of pinched nerves

A pinched nerve could occur in many areas of your body, such as:

• Herniated disk in the lower spine
• Upper back, called thoracic radiculopathy
• Wrist, causing carpal tunnel syndrome
• Neck, aka cervical radiculopathy, radiating to your shoulder and arm
• Lumbar radiculopathy, causing sciatica pain in your lower back

It can also affect multiple areas at once. Dr. Dube helps you heal before it feels overwhelming.

Everything’s connected

All nerves lead to the brain. Much like a New York City subway map where the green line represents your spinal cord, other lines, or nerves, branch out to different parts of your body. If one of these lines is blocked due to misaligned vertebrae, herniated disc, inflammation, or other issue, it may result in a pinched nerve.

Symptoms of a compressed, or pinched, nerve include:

• Pain in your neck or lower back
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Weakness following activity
• Radiating pain

Although these symptoms may go away for a while, the underlying problem usually won’t resolve without treatment.

Relief is on the way

If you’ve suffered a nerve-related issue, Dr. Dube releases the compression to open the pathway and relieve your pain. He uses a variety of methods, depending upon the location of your problem, such as:

Manual traction

Manually widening the space between your vertebrae, Dr. Dube eases the pressure your joints and muscles place upon your nerves.

Spinal manipulation

Dr. Dube applies force to your joints to fix misalignments and release trapped nerves, so your body heals.

Electrical stimulation

Gentle stimulus from electrodes recalibrates nerve function, allowing your muscles to relax.

Ultrasound

Sound waves and heat improve circulation and reduce pain.

Cold therapy

Ice reduces inflammation from a pinched nerve.

Stretching exercises

To prevent future episodes, our team uses exercises, such as neck rolls, to improve your flexibility and posture.

Combined with chiropractic adjustments, learning proper lifting techniques and posture helps lower your risk of future nerve problems. 

If you suffer from a pinched nerve or other skeletal or muscular issues, we offer spinal manipulation along with education and stress management to help you better understand and release your pain. Call one of our Manhattan offices or schedule an appointment with Apollo Chiropractic today.