Cody B. Doyle DC, DIANM | Chiropractor Roanoke Tx 76262 | Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist

Board Certified Chiropractor Serving Patients in Roanoke, Keller, and Fort Worth Texas

What Are the Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve?

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Injury, poor posture, or repetitive movements can result in compression on a nerve. Over time, this pressure can result in a painful condition commonly known as a pinched nerve. Nerve compression tends to occur in vulnerable places where there is little soft tissue for protection. Often, these points of injury are near ligaments, tendons, and bone. The resulting damage (and pain) can be minor, moderate, or severe. 

Dr. Cody B. Doyle, a chiropractor and acupuncturist, treats pinched nerves in Roanoke, TX. Dr. Doyle has more than 21 years of experience in delivering holistic and effective treatment. If you are experiencing the symptoms of a pinched nerve, early treatment is critical to increasing your chances for optimal health outcomes and the prevention of further nerve damage.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve in your neck or spine can radiate pain outward. Early symptoms often include neck or low back pain. It is common for pain to reach the shoulders, arms, legs, and even the hands. Common symptoms include:

  • Neck pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • “Pins and needles” sensations
  • Burning sensation
  • Pain during certain movements
  • Sudden onset of weakness

A pinched nerve can be the cause of other conditions, such as:

 

  • Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy results from nerve damage. The condition can interfere with muscle movement or restrict normal sensations.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common form of mononeuropathy that results from strain. Individuals who perform repetitive tasks are at increased risk for developing this often painful condition. 

 

If left untreated, scarring and swelling near the nerve can result. For some patients, rest can alleviate the symptoms of a pinched nerve. By abstaining from the movements that led to the pinched nerve (such as improper sleeping posture), some individuals are able to naturally recover. If your symptoms perpetuate or become more pronounced, you should seek relief at our Roanoke chiropractic clinic. 

Treatment Options

While medications, injections, and even surgery are sometimes used to treat a pinched nerve, Dr. Doyle prefers using non-invasive treatments. Each condition is unique, so your treatment plans will be custom-tailored to your specific needs. After your thorough examination, Dr. Doyle may recommend any of the following:

  • Chiropractic (Diversified, Activator, Thompson, or Gonstead methods)
  • Acupuncture
  • Herbal remedies
  • Massage therapy
  • Therapeutic exercises
  • Auriculotherapy
  • Nutritional planning and detoxifications programs
  • Weight loss treatments

Once you have been fully treated, you will want to take proactive steps to prevent the return of a pinched nerve. It is important to understand common risk factors for a pinched nerve, which include diabetes, overuse of certain muscles, obesity, pregnancy, and prolonged bed rest. 

A few steps you can take to prevent this condition include:

  • Exercising regularly (with a focus on strength training and flexibility)
  • Maintaining good posture and body positioning
  • Limiting repetitive activities or taking frequent breaks
  • Maintaining a healthy weight

Treat Your Pinched Nerve Symptoms in Roanoke, TX

While other doctors may recommend injections and medications for a quick fix, Dr. Doyle will take the time to look at your body holistically. By changing certain habits and developing new ones, you can prevent pinched nerves from returning. To schedule your consultation or treatment with Dr. Doyle, please contact our office online or call (817) 767-5430.

 

Is your pain being caused by a pinched nerve?

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bulging disc pinched nervePins and needles. Numbness. Weakness. Pain. These symptoms in your neck, shoulder(s), arm(s), wrist(s), hand(s), buttock(s), leg(s), or foot/feet could indicate a pinched nerve. The onset can be quick or progressive, over many years. Left to worsen, the pain could become chronic, even debilitating.Read More >

Could you have a pinched nerve?

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Could you have a pinched nerve?Your body contains billions of nerve cells, called neurons. They’re constantly sending messages to your brain through electrical signals carried by the vast nervous system network. With so many neurons in your body, it’s no surprise that occasional nerve pain and discomfort can occur with daily activities. Long hours sitting at your desk, starting a new exercise routine, or sleeping in an uncomfortable position can all lead to pressure on your nerves. In some cases, pain is caused by a pinched nerve, an uncomfortable condition that can sometimes be treated with chiropractic care.

If you suffer from pinched nerve symptoms, schedule an appointment at Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture. Dr. Doyle offers a range of treatments that help a body heal naturally. Contact our Roanoke office at 817-767-5430 to schedule your next appointment.

What is a pinched nerve?

Nerves are surrounded by muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and bones. If these tissues expand and move out of their proper alignment in the body, they can put pressure on nearby nerves. Tight muscles, inflammation, bony spurs, and displaced cartilage or spinal discs can all cause this pinching effect. Nerves respond by sending distress signals to the brain. Your brain can interpret this signal in different ways, but patients may feel:

  • Weak or tired muscles
  • Pain or discomfort that radiates outward
  • Tingling sensations, sometimes described as “pins and needles”
  • Muscle aches

Nerve pinching often happens in places where bones or ligaments closely surround nerves. The type of discomfort felt varies, depending on the nerve’s location. If located in your upper spine, a pinched nerve could lead to headaches, a dull ache in your neck and shoulders, or reduced mobility when turning your head. In the lower spine, pinched nerves often come from herniated or misaligned spinal discs. This can lead to sciatica, a condition characterized by lower back pain, hip pain, and tingling sensations radiating down one or both legs.

How can a chiropractor help me feel better?

While pinched nerve pain can dissipate with rest, you don’t have to live with the discomfort. Chiropractic may help you find faster relief from symptoms.

Chiropractic Adjustments: Dr. Doyle will examine the affected area and assess for any spinal misalignment. By re-aligning your spine through controlled chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Doyle can help alleviate pressure on nerves and improve circulation.

Home Exercise Programs: Simple, at-home stretches and exercises strengthen weak muscles and loosen tight muscles that cause undue pressure on nerves. Stronger, more agile muscles are less likely to allow pinched nerves in the future.

Premodulated Muscle Stimulation: This treatment mimics your nerves’ electrical signals and may reduce the affected area’s aches or soreness. Dr. Doyle applies small electrodes around the affected site to pass safe electrical currents through the skin and into deep muscle tissues. The electrical impulses improve circulation in the affected area and may quicken your body’s natural healing process.

Myofascial Release Therapy: To improve the affected area’s blood flow and range of motion, Dr. Doyle offers hands-on treatment to manipulate the connective tissues surrounding muscle. Effective massage and stretching techniques provide pain relief associated with tired or tight muscles.

If radiating aches and pains or tingling sensations from a pinched nerve are affecting your quality of life, schedule an appointment with Dr. Doyle. He helps patients just like you, in the Roanoke and Trophy Club area, regain mobility with comprehensive acupuncture, chiropractic, and complementary treatments. Contact us now at 817-767-5430.

“Pins and Needles” May Indicate a Pinched Nerve

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pinched nerve, Roanoke TXDo you get “pins and needles” at inexplicable times? When accompanied by painful or burning sensations, or numbness, this may indicate you have a pinched nerve.

We all know that common pins and needles sensation. It happens when you sit too long in an odd position too long or lie against your arm when sleeping. Medically, this sensation is referred to as paresthesia, and it’s usually not something to be alarmed about. Nerve pathways travel from the brain, through the spinal cord, and out to every part of the body. When a nerve or bundle of nerves is compressed, it doesn’t function properly and you may lose sensation in an area of the body. Once the compression has stopped, you feel that curious paresthesia feeling as the nerves “wake up” and restore proper function. However, when paresthesia occurs unexpectedly or randomly in the course of what should be normal sensations—that can be cause for alarm.

Do you get pins and needles and inexplicable numbness? You may have a pinched nerve that could escalate to potentially painful nerve pain symptoms. For treatment for a pinched nerve, Roanoke TX, contact Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture online or call (817) 767-5430.

What Causes Pinched Nerves?

A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissues apply too much pressure to a nerve pathway. This can be caused by bone or cartilage, such as in the case of a herniated disc in the spine, or it may be caused by tendons and muscles, such as with carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. Pinched nerves belong to a class of nerve conditions referred to as peripheral neuropathy.

Symptoms of a pinched nerve may include:

  • Paresthesia
  • Sharp, burning, or radiating pain
  • Numbness
  • Muscle weakness

There are several known conditions that can contribute to the potential for developing a pinched nerve:

  • Degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Prior injury
  • Sports, hobbies, or work that relies on repeated movements
  • Being overweight

If a nerve is pinched for only a short time, it may resolve itself naturally and not be an issue. However, if it happens repeatedly, there’s a chance it may lead to worsening pain and an inability to maintain your natural range of movement.

Risk Factors

Oddly enough, women tend to suffer from pinched nerves more so than men—especially carpal tunnel syndrome. Pinched nerves can start in pregnancy when weight is gained and more stress is put onto the joints and the spine. Any type of medical problem that keeps you lying down for a long period of time can also increase the risk of nerve compression.

There are few medical conditions that increase your risk of pinched nerve, as well. For both men and women, (1) diabetes, (2) thyroid conditions, (3) bone spurs, and (4) obesity can all put you at greater risk of developing a pinched nerve.

How a Chiropractor Can Help

The spine is the basis for all movement in the body. If poor alignment of the spine is behind your nerve compression, chiropractic adjustments may help realign your musculoskeletal system for normal healthy function. If your compressed nerve is caused by an injury, arthritis, or repetitive movements, Dr. Doyle may suggest improving function using premodulated muscle stimulation (strategic electrical stimulation), ultrasound, physical therapy exercises, or acupuncture. Since there are many nerves in the body that can become compressed, and many causes behind it, treatments will vary based on the best functional solution for your symptoms.

Call our office at (817) 767-5430 to make an appointment for a consultation for a potentially pinched nerve, Roanoke TX, and Dr. Cody Doyle will assess your symptoms.