A pinched nerve can happen in a number of places in 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 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 isn’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?
A pinched nerve might seem like a minor annoyance at first, with symptoms like tingling, numbness, or temporary discomfort. However, if left untreated, a pinched nerve can lead to significant and long-term complications that can affect your mobility, strength, and overall quality of life. Whether the compression is caused by an injury, poor posture, or underlying conditions like arthritis, ignoring the warning signs can have lasting consequences.
When a nerve remains compressed for an extended period, it disrupts the signals traveling between the brain and the affected area of the body. This can result in persistent pain, muscle weakness, and even permanent nerve damage. But how do you know when a pinched nerve requires medical attention? And more importantly, what happens if my pinched nerve is untreated? Let’s take a deeper dive into the potential consequences of an untreated pinched nerve and the importance of seeking quality treatment and care.
The Progression of an Untreated Pinched Nerve
While some pinched nerves can go away on their own with rest and home remedies, others can get worse over time without appropriate intervention. Here’s what can happen when a pinched nerve is ignored:
1. Chronic Pain and Discomfort
A pinched nerve often begins with mild discomfort, but over time, the pain can become constant or even debilitating. If the nerve remains compressed, it can lead to chronic inflammation, making your pain more severe and widespread. You might initially notice the pain only when you move in a certain way, but as the condition gets worse, even sitting or lying down can become painful.
2. Persistent Numbness and Tingling
One of the most common signs of a pinched nerve is numbness and tingling in the affected area. If the nerve compression is not relieved, these sensations can become permanent. This can happen because too much pressure on a nerve for a long period of time can end up reducing blood flow and preventing it from functioning correctly. Over time, you might lose sensation entirely in the area, which can be dangerous, especially if the affected nerve is in your hands or feet, where it can be harder to detect injuries.
3. Muscle Weakness and Atrophy
Nerves play a key role in muscle control and movement. If a nerve remains pinched, it can lead to weakness in the affected nearby muscles. You might notice that gripping objects becomes difficult, or you struggle to lift things you previously could without issue. Over time, the lack of proper nerve function can lead to muscle atrophy, meaning the muscles shrink and weaken from disuse. This can create long-term mobility issues and make recovery and rehabilitation more challenging.
4. Pinched Nerve Muscle Twitching and Spasms
If you’ve ever experienced involuntary muscle twitches, they might be linked to an untreated pinched nerve. When a nerve is compressed, it can send erratic signals to the muscles, causing them to twitch unexpectedly. Pinched nerve muscle twitching can occur in the affected area or even radiate outward, leading to discomfort and frustration. You might also be wondering, can a pinched nerve cause muscle spasms? The answer is yes. When the nerve’s signals become disrupted, it can lead to involuntary muscle contractions, causing painful spasms. This can make even simple movements uncomfortable and contribute to chronic tension in the surrounding muscles.
5. Reduced Range of Motion and Stiffness
A pinched nerve can cause surrounding muscles to become tight and stiff, making it more difficult to move freely and comfortably. You might start to notice that turning your head, stretching your arm, or bending down becomes more difficult because of the discomfort and tension caused by nerve compression. These limitations can impact your daily activities, from working at a desk to exercising or even getting a good night’s sleep.
6. Nerve Damage and Loss of Function
One of the most severe consequences of an untreated pinched nerve is nerve damage. If a nerve remains compressed for too long, the protective covering around the nerve fibers, known as the myelin sheath, can break down, leading to permanent damage. This can result in long-term pain, loss of function, and even neurological disorders. In extreme cases, surgery may be required to relieve pressure on the nerve and prevent further deterioration.
Can a Muscle Spasm Cause a Pinched Nerve?
While a pinched nerve can lead to muscle spasms, the reverse can also be true that a muscle spasm can cause a pinched nerve, too. When a muscle contracts forcefully and remains tight, it can put too much pressure on nearby nerves, leading to compression. This is common in cases where you have a lot of muscle tension due to stress, overuse, or poor posture. Addressing muscle tightness through stretching, massage, and chiropractic care can help prevent nerve compression before it becomes a bigger issue.
Treatment for a Pinched Nerve
Since pinched nerves can cause such major complications, getting treatment early is essential. Here are some ways to prevent long-term damage:
1. Seek Chiropractic Care
A chiropractor can provide non-invasive treatment options to relieve pressure on the affected nerve. Gentle spinal adjustments can help realign the vertebrae, reducing nerve compression and promoting the body’s natural healing processes. Chiropractic care is also beneficial because it addresses the root cause of the issue rather than just managing your symptoms.
2. Physical Therapy and Stretching
A physical therapist will provide you with targeted stretches and strengthening exercises that can help relieve tension in the muscles surrounding the nerve. Physical therapy will include a personalized treatment plan to improve flexibility, posture, and overall spinal health so you can gain strength and mobility.
3. Use Proper Ergonomics
Poor posture is one of the leading causes of pinched nerves. If you spend long hours sitting at a desk or using electronic devices, it’s important to make sure your posture supports proper spinal health. Easy tricks and tips for your home and workplace include using ergonomic chairs, keeping screens at eye level, and taking frequent breaks to stretch and move your body.
4. Heat and Cold Therapy
Applying ice packs can reduce inflammation and provide a temporary numbing sensation, while heat therapy can relax tense muscles. Alternating between heat and cold therapy can provide relief and promote healing in the area affected by a pinched nerve.
5. Rest and Modify Activities
Sometimes, giving your body time to heal is the best option. It helps to avoid activities that make your pain worse and incorporate gentle movements like walking or yoga to keep circulation flowing.
When to See a Doctor
A pinched nerve may start as a mild annoyance, but if ignored, it can lead to serious complications that impact your daily life. From chronic pain and muscle spasms to nerve damage and loss of function, the risks of leaving a pinched nerve untreated far outweigh the inconvenience of seeking treatment.
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of a pinched nerve for more than a few days without improvement, it’s time to seek medical attention. Signs that could indicate a more serious issue include:
- Persistent pain that doesn’t get better with rest
- Increasing muscle weakness or difficulty controlling certain movements
- Severe numbness or loss of sensation in a specific area
- Radiating pain that spreads to other parts of the body
If you’re dealing with persistent nerve pain, visiting a chiropractor or healthcare professional can make all the difference. Addressing the issue early can help prevent long-term damage, restore mobility, and get you back to feeling your best. Don’t wait until it’s too late—take action now to protect your nerve health and overall well-being.
Do pinched nerves go away on their own? It is possible for pinched nerves to heal on their own. Taking time to rest and alternating ice and heat on the affected area can help. 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 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.
AICA Orthopedics for Pinched Nerve Treatment
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.