Pinched Nerve

Numbness and shooting pain are indicators that a nerve is affected and it is a concern when the patient expresses that he/she has been suffering with these symptoms for some time and they are getting worse.

A bundle of nerves exiting the spinal column in the lower neck branch off to supply the shoulder, arms, hands and fingers. The most common cause of pain and numbness is a “pinched nerve”. This can be caused by many reasons, among the most common are long-standing stress, injuries (new or old), sports, car accidents or sleeping in awkward positions. Depending on which nerves are involved, different symptoms and problems may be experienced. There may be neck stiffness or pain that radiates to the shoulder or all the way down to the fingers. Sometimes there is no pain but numbness or feelings of heat, cold or swelling. Even a feeling of “pins and needles” in the fingers are common. Due to the complicated ways that nerves interrelate, conditions such as headaches, migraines or limited/painful motion of the neck can accompany these symptoms when the nerves are affected.

Chiropractic care is essential for anyone with shoulder, arm or hand/finger problems to remove the pinching of nerves and restore proper function of the body. The use of NSAID`s or painkillers will only mask the problem instead of stopping the cause. It is important to address the problem and not cover it up.