Antonia Bonagura, Nerve Pain

Spinal discs and nerves are vulnerable to increased pressures from surrounding joints and muscles. 

Discs and nerves are extremely sensitive and any change to the surrounding pressures and structures can cause them to become inflamed and aggravated. This leads to sciatica, nerve pain and muscle weakness.

When a patient says they have a 'slipped disc'. 'herniated disc' or a 'pinched nerve', what is it actually happening? 

Imagine a disc as a soft sponge, when pressure is put on it ( from the spine, muscles, tendons, ligaments), it can bulge outwards on one side and touch the spinal nerve. This will immediately aggravate the nerve and cause discomfort. 

A pinched nerve means that a structure ( spine, muscle, ligament, tendon), is touching the nerve and reducing the available space for it to pass through. Again, because nerves are so sensitive, this can cause inflammation and pain wherever the nerve passes. 

Nerve pain can be varied and complex. It can range from: pins and needles, numbness, tingling, sharp shooting, toothache type pain, electric shock type pain, dull aching , throbbing, sciatica and more. 

Sciatica and nerve pain can be extremely debilitating and can impact all areas of life.  

A Chiropractor focuses on treating the dysfunctional structure which will in turn,  remove the pressures put upon the discs and nerves and return the body to optimum performance.

Nerves can be pinched by overlying muscles throughout the body. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is an example of this. 

When forearm muscles and wrist joints get tight, the can compress the nerve which runs below them. This causes pins and needles, numbness and aching into the wrist and hand. 

It is commonly seen in hairdressers and professions which requires a lot of writing or typing.  

Chiropractors mobilise the wrist joints and relax the tight muscles to ease the pressure on the nerve and in-turn, ease the symptoms. 

It is worth speaking to a chiropractor to see if they can help.