A pinched nerve can happen in a number of places ins your body, from your wrist to your foot. Many people are actually quite familiar with the experience of a pinched nerve, commonly known as your foot or leg “falling asleep”. If you’ve been sitting in one place for too long or with your legs crossed, the pressure on certain nerves in your legs and lower half can put pressure on nerves that typically send messages through to your feet. When a nerve is compressed, you’ll feel that “pins and needles” feeling until the pressure is relieved. If you notice those symptoms just won’t seem to go away then a chiropractor in Conyers can help.
How to Tell You Have a Pinched Nerve
There are many types of illnesses and injuries that can lead to a pinched nerve. Pinched nerves are relatively common, from your foot falling asleep to an injury or illness that causes a pinched nerve. There are mild, moderate, and severe versions of a pinched nerve, and many of the signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve are the same.
Pain
A pinched nerve can cause pain that can feel like a sharp, burning pain or a dull ache. The pain generally occurs near where the nerve is compressed though it you can also feel pain in your hands or feet.
Tingling and Numbness
Tingling and numbness are also sometimes referred to as a “pins and needles” sensation. The most common example of tingling and numbness with a pinched nerve is that feeling you get when your foot falls asleep and you need to move around or shake it so the funny feeling stops.
Muscle Spasms
A pinched nerve can also cause muscle spasms, especially in the arm or leg. You might feel a repetitive “flutter” when your arm or leg wasn’t moving. It is also possible to experience a muscle spasm that feels like a twitch.
Restricted Range of Motion
Consider when your foot has fallen asleep: when you first tried to stand up or move around, did it seem like your foot or leg wouldn’t hold you up? That’s the type of limited range of motion that can occur when a pinched nerve prevents you from moving or bending like normal.
What Damage a Pinched Nerve Can Cause
Unlike your foot falling asleep after your legs have been crossed for too long, other times a pinched nerve won’t just go away after you start moving around. When that happens, a chiropractor in Conyers can help provide non-invasive treatment options to help relieve your pain and discomfort. If a pinched nerve isn’t treated and continues to create symptoms like tingling and numbness then it can lead to some uncomfortable long-term problems.
When a nerve continues to be compressed it can cause persistent pain that can affect your daily life. Severe compression of a nerve combined with inflammation nearby that goes untreated can cause damage to nearby soft tissues and nerves, leading to chronic pain. Nerves that are compressed or pinched for too long can also lead to nerve damage. When the nerves are damaged it can make certain motions feel incredibly uncomfortable or even impossible. You might find it’s harder to control your muscles or find difficulty when moving certain parts of your body.
Treatment for a Pinched Nerve
Do pinched nerves go away on it’s own? It is possible by taking time to rest and alternating ice and heat on the affected area. When time and rest aren’t enough to relieve a pinched nerve, your chiropractor in Conyers can offer beneficial treatment. Chiropractic care provides a safe, non-invasive option for treating a pinched nerve. A chiropractor can use gentle adjustment techniques that restore any misalignments in the spine that might be causing compression. Your chiropractor can also talk to you about stretches and exercises that can help provide relief and also strengthen your muscles. In some cases, a splint or cervical collar may help provide additional support to the area and restrict motion while you heal.
At AICA Orthopedics in Conyers, our team of multi-specialty doctors includes chiropractors, orthopedics, and physical therapists who can all help assist with treating a pinched nerve. Visit our office and find out how an AICA chiropractor in Conyers can help you experience lasting relief from a pinched nerve.