A pinched nerves chiropractor in Cranberry is no stranger to neck pain as one of the key indications of nerve pinching, particularly in the cervical spine. The human body has about 7 trillion nerves that send signals to the brain, which is usually connected to the spine. The main parts of the central nervous system are the brain and the spinal cord, which serves as the body’s processing center. It controls most bodily functions, from awareness, movement, speech, thinking, and the five basic senses.
If one of your nerves endures undue pressure, it can affect a more extensive area than you think. Take your cervical spine, for example, or those bones in your neck area. If a pinched nerve happens there, you will notice its effects on different areas such as your neck, shoulders, back, arms, and down to your fingers.
Your upper neck bones support eight pairs of cranial nerves which innervate the face and various upper body parts. When these nerve bundles get pinched or compressed, they become at risk for myelin sheath damage. The protective layer on the nerves gradually deteriorates and causes you to experience searing pain.
Notably, the cervical spine nerves can get pinched for various reasons, including inflammation of surrounding tissues or misaligned cervical bones (C1 and C2 bones). Sadly, the pain signals will continue to manifest until you deal with the primary cause of the irritation and not just address the symptoms.
What are the red flags to watch out for?
So how do you know if your cervical spine is experiencing compression or is irritated? Below are some tell-tale signs of a pinched nerve in the cervical spine:
#1. Numbness and paresthesia
Numbness and paresthesia are uncommon in musculoskeletal problems such as sprains or strains. However, these are two common symptoms related to injury or nerve damage. When this happens on the neck and proximal body parts, pay attention if you have other symptoms.
#2. Radiating pain
When you have pinched cervical nerves or nerve compression, you can experience radiating pain with discomfort or a burning sensation starting on your neck. Pinched nerves may also feel on your shoulder, arm, or upper and middle back. Your pain can range from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the pinched nerve.
#3. Recurring pain
Sometimes, with rest, your pinched nerves can go away independently. However, sadly in some cases, it comes back with a vengeance. The symptoms you experienced before may happen again and can last longer. If you want to avoid recurring pain, we encourage you to consult with a pinched nerves chiropractor in Cranberry during the early onset of your symptoms. This can also prevent further discomfort moving forward.
Other known signs of pinched nerves include weakness in your shoulders, arms, or hands because nerve compression can affect your nerve’s ability to send signals properly. Muscle weakness may follow as well.
What can you do about it?
Sometimes pinched nerves can resolve on their own, but there are cases where you will need to intervene to manage your condition. You may even benefit from a consultation with a pinched nerves chiropractor in Cranberry. Below are some ways you can try:
#1. Alternating heat and ice compress
Try applying ice for 15-20 minutes at a time several times daily to help reduce inflammation. Heat can also help manage pain. Just ensure you are careful not to apply ice and heat directly to your skin, as this could cause burns.
#2. Scheduling regular exercise
Stretching and yoga can help loosen your muscles and prevent further damage. However, please listen to your body and take things slowly, so you don’t make things worse. Also, remember to engage only in gentle movements, as you don’t want to aggravate your condition.
#3. Maintaining proper posture
Putting more pressure on your cervical spine and upper back may be the last thing you want when dealing with pinched nerves. So it’s imperative to maintain proper posture when walking, standing, sitting, or even sleeping. Unfortunately, pinched nerves may also result from bad posture, so ensuring you maintain proper posture may spare you from the pain and discomfort accompanying pinched nerves.
#4. Undergoing physical therapy
Some pinched nerve cases improve significantly after seeking physical therapy. Your therapist can help you move during your routine and teach you how to shift from one position to another without further damaging your compressed nerves.
#5. Seeking upper cervical chiropractic care
This type of chiropractic care has been gaining popularity because it’s been helping patients address their conditions linked to misalignments in the upper cervical spine. One condition this natural method can help manage pinched nerves, which stem from a poor or wrong alignment of the C1 and C2 bones. This can be due to physical trauma, car accidents, repetitive injuries, or sporting events.
Upper cervical chiropractic doctors can help restore the balance and alignment of your neck bones, relieving pressure and stress on the nerves and the surrounding tissues. Once the pressure is gone, your damaged nerves can slowly heal and recover, and your symptoms can slowly stop happening. The gentle adjustments also come in handy in releasing tension buildup in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Revive Upper Cervical Chiropractic: A Trusted Pinched Nerves Chiropractor in Cranberry
Sometimes you don’t have to look far for pinched nerve pain relief. If your symptoms start from the neck, you may benefit from having your neck checked, this time by an upper cervical chiropractic doctor. They can evaluate your upper cervical spine’s overall health to see if a misalignment is a culprit for your pain and discomfort.
Once you visit for a consultation, your pain and medical history will be evaluated, accompanied by imaging tests if necessary to make sure every data gathered is precise and accurate. They will also recommend adjustments that perfectly align with your body’s needs.
Call our office at 724-772-7060 or fill out the form below to get started with your chiropractic care. Your neck bones will eventually shift back to their neutral alignment, and you can return from the activities you enjoy, free from your painful and debilitating symptoms in no time.
With proper care and regular visits to our pinched nerves chiropractor in Cranberry, you can maintain your neck bone’s optimum health and prevent your pinched nerve issues from coming back.
To schedule a consultation with Revive Upper Cervical Chiropractic, call our office at 724-772-7060.
