Pinched Nerve Neck Pain - Causes, Symptoms, and Chiropractic Treatment

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If you're experiencing chronic pinched nerve neck pain, don't hesitate to see a chiropractor for treatment. The following article discusses causes, symptoms, and effective methods of chiropractic treatment for pinched neck anguish.

What are the symptoms of pinched nerve neck pain?

Common symptoms of nerve neck pain include neck anguish (chronic or less severe) as well as pain radiating down the neck and arms or sometimes even as far down as the hands. The reason individuals experience nerve neck anguish is because your nerves, the cells that specialize in transmitting messages throughout your entire body become damaged.

Pinched nerve neck pain: how does it occur?

You can damage, injure, or "pinch" a nerve in a variety of ways: overstretching the nerve, constricting the nerve, and compressing are a few. Nerve neck pain can result from bony growths in your neck that occur from arthritis or any degenerative disease that places pressure on the nerves in the neck. You may suffer from neck anguish due to spinal stenosis, a condition that causes the space between your neck and spinal vertebrae to narrow. Spinal stenosis applies increased pressure to nerves. Herniated disks are also a contributor to pinched nerve neck anguish-in those cases, disks can "slip out of place". Carpal tunnel is also a cause of nerves, as that area which all finger tendons and nerves pass through the hand is a bottleneck area.

If you suffer from neck pain, consult a chiropractor for treatment options. Common pinched nerve neck symptoms include numbness in the hands or legs, back spasms, tingling, burning, or hot/cold sensations.

Are you experiencing pain radiating from your neck?

Does your neck feel weak?

Do you feel a numb, prickling, or burning sensation in your neck?

Do any of the sensations/pain extend beyond your neck?

If you're experiencing any or all of those neck anguish sensations, it's best to consult with a chiropractor. Very few patients need surgery for pinched nerves; for most of them, non-surgical treatments such as Chiropractic Care, physical therapy, or medication will provide relief from nerve pain. There are a variety of focused therapies to help you find relief from all your nerve symptoms and have a better long-term outcome. Let a chiropractor work with you to develop a treatment plan and get you on the road to recovery.

Consult a chiropractor about your neck anguish-although some nerve problems can be resolved without any treatment, others can degenerate and numbness, damage, burning, or tingling sensations can become permanent.

Varieties of Herniated Discs

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There are many varieties of herniated discs possible in the human spine and patients love to declare their diagnosis without even understanding what it means. I am bombarded daily by readers who go to great lengths to detail the specific variety of disc concern which has been blamed for causing them so much pain, but I find that virtually none of these patients really understand the difference between the many types of disc protrusions which are possible. It is for this reason that I advise all patients to spend some time educating themselves as to the exact nature of their diagnosed spinal abnormality in order to better their participation in treatment and increase their chances for better therapy results.

There are many terms used to diagnose disc pathologies, with some being used interchangeably by care providers and others being used to differentiate specific types of bulges and herniations. Some of the more common terminologies include bulging disc, slipped disc and prolapsed disc, among others. These simply identify a herniated disc condition in one form or another, but this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to diagnostic terminology!

In addition to any of the above terms, certain other names may be applied to a herniated disc, signifying how or where it is abnormally affected. The first set of names which may be applied include anterior and posterior herniations. Anterior bulges are rare and are almost never considered symptomatic. Posterior herniations face into the spinal nerve structures and are therefore blamed for sourcing the majority of back pain concerns, even when no evidence of actual structural impingement or compression is noted.

Posterior herniations are further broken down into many subcategories, which detail more specifically how and where the bulge occurs. Diffuse herniated discs occur over a large portion of the disc structure. Broad based herniations account for bulges consisting of 25% to 50% of the total disc size, while focal disc protrusions involve less than 25% of the overall disc structure. All of these can occur in any of the following varieties:

Central herniated discs, are also known as median herniations, and have a tendency to bulge directly in the midline of the disc, facing directly into the middle of the thecal sac and possibly impinging upon or compressing the spinal cord or cauda equina, depending on the affected level.

Posterolateral herniated discs, also known as paramedian herniations, are the most common variety of posterior disc issue and bulge off center and into the lateral recess on one side of the central spinal canal or the other. In some cases, these bulges can enact asymmetrical central canal stenosis or may enter into the neuroforaminal space, possibly causing a pinched nerve root syndrome.

Foraminal herniated disc is the term used for a one sided herniation which also does indeed block the neuroforaminal space or even protrudes through it. These discs have the best chance of enacting nerve compression due to pressure on the nerve root as it attempts to exit the vertebral foramen.

Far lateral herniated discs, also called extraforaminal herniations, exist outside the spinal canal and may be difficult to accurately image and diagnose. Unlike most posterolateral and foraminal herniations which affect the nerve root at the same level as the disc condition, far lateral bulges may affect the nerve root above the herniation, making positive symptomatic correlation that much more difficult.

Luckily, research clearly demonstrates that the vast majority of disc herniations and bulges are not problematic and do not cause chronic back pain. For disc issues which are definitively sources of symptoms, most will respond well to appropriate treatment. If your disc issues have not resolved despite numerous therapy attempts, it may be wise to consider the very viable possibility that these structural findings are coincidental to the pain and therefore will never respond well to targeted treatment... For more information on any of these disc diagnoses, please visit the Cure Back Pain Network website detailed in the author resource section.

The Basics of Spinal Decompression Therapy

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Spinal Decompression Therapy is a non-surgical traction based treatment that can effectively treat back, neck, arm, and leg pain. It works extremely well for treating herniated or bulging discs in the neck and lower back along with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet arthritis, failed back surgery syndrome, sciatica, and radiculopathy.

The FDA cleared spinal decompression therapy in 1996. It's extremely safe, affordable, and revolutionary.

How Does Spinal Decompression Work?

The treatment is traction-based, with gradual application and release of traction forces designed to "trick" the para-spinal muscles so they do not guard or spasm.

This creates a negative pressure on the spine, which then allows increased blood flow bringing along substantial oxygen and nutrients. This allows the protruded or herniated disc to be pulled back within the normal confines of the disc, which permits healing to occur.

What Conditions Benefit from Spinal Decompression?

繚 Herniated Discs Neck & Back
繚 Bulging Discs
繚 Degenerative Disc Disease
繚 Failed Surgery
繚 Sciatica
繚 Radiculopathy
繚 Spinal Arthritis
繚 Spinal Stenosis
繚 Facet Syndrome

Is Spinal Decompression Therapy Painful? How Many Sessions are Needed?

For the vast majority of patients, treatment is completely painless. A considerable amount of patients actually fall asleep during the sessions.

Based on research and our providers' clinical experience, the best results are achieved with 20 sessions over a six-week period. To reduce inflammation and assist the healing process, supporting structures sometimes are treated with passive therapies (ice/heat/muscle stimulation), chiropractic adjustments (when indicated) and/or active rehabilitation in order to strengthen the spinal musculature.

Are there Clinical Trials that Document the Effectiveness of Spinal Decompression Therapy?

There are quite a few actually, although none are Level 1 studies. In a study published in the Journal of Neuroimaging in 1998, Eyerman found in 20 patients that utilization of spinal decompression therapy resulted in disc herniation reduction and disc rehydration in over half of the patients.

A study in the American Journal of Pain Management by Shealy et al in 1997 showed that 86% of ruptured intervertebral disc patients achieved good to excellent results with decompression. Sciatica and back pain were relieved substantially and of the facet arthrosis patients, 75% obtained good to excellent results with spinal decompression.

One of the most well known studies on decompression therapy was published in the Orthopedic Technology Review in 2003 by Gionis et al. Out of 219 patients, 86% who completed treatment reported immediate resolution of their symptoms, while 84% remained pain free 90 days post-treatment. Physical examination findings showed improvement in 92% of the patients and remained intact in 89% of the patients 90 days after treatment.

Are there Conditions where Spinal Decompression Therapy is Not Indicated?

Decompression Treatment is not recommended for pregnant women, people with severe osteoporosis, or post spinal surgery with instrumentation. Spinal fusion surgery without instrumentation is okay as well as spinal surgery without a fusion.

Do Patients Also Receive Physical Therapy and Rehab Exercises?

Typically yes. To reduce inflammation and to assist in the spinal healing process, physical therapy along with rehab is usually added to strengthen the paraspinal musculature. Also passive therapies like ice (cryotherapy),heat, muscle stimulation, and chiropractic adjustments are added to the mix as well.

How Much Does it Cost and does Insurance cover it?

The cost for 20 sessions ranges typically from $1200 to $4500, which is very reasonable considering the cost and potential adverse outcomes associated with spine surgery.

It's debatable whether insurance covers spinal decompression therapy. Some practices advertise that it does but it can be potentially deceiving. There are some codes for vertebral traction but spinal decompression is not pure traction, it's a "traction-based" treatment. Most centers offering spinal decompression therefore offer it as a cash based fee for service treatment.

The Bottom Line

Spinal decompression therapy has saved many people from spinal surgery. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, surgery is no more effective than non-invasive treatments, including chiropractic care, for patients with lumbar disc herniation causing sciatica.

It is extremely safe, FDA cleared, affordable, and very effective for many conditions such as back, neck, arm, and leg pain.

Age Related Spinal Arthritis Is No Myth At All

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In a lot of magazines written especially for elderly people you can find articles about spinal arthritis that, more often then not, seem to be related to age. Are those articles just made to sell products or is there some truth in that assumption? Well in fact there are a couple of different kind of spinal arthritis types and they have all different names for example osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and arthritis of the facet joints. And the magazines do have a point when they say that spinal arthritis is caused by age.

Spinal arthritis is no life threatening disease but it can be very painful, debilitating and cut into the mobility of many people. And lets be honest, mostly elderly people are struck with the symptoms of these types of arthritis. There are some exceptions because there are younger people who suffer from spinal arthritis although most develop just a mild form. With younger people, spinal arthritis usually begin very mildly and have a tendency to escalate in pain intensity after many years.

What are the symptoms of spinal arthritis?

Almost all kind of arthritis cause symptoms like: - pain

- swelling

- stiffness of the joints

- morning stiffness

- the spinal area can feel numb

- spinal deformity

- feeling of bone on bone rubbing

- reduced mobility

- reduced agility

Causes Of Spinal Arthritis

The most common cause of most types of spinal arthritis are the succumbing of the cartilages of the spine through wear and tear, normal aging an injuries to the bones.

If in the spine the cartilages wear down, this results in friction of the cartilages, pain, swelling, inflammation and loss of motion in that area. Most of the time when the symptoms are focused mainly in the neck and lower back the spinal arthritis is caused by osteoporosis an this kind of arthritis almost always develops when we age. What starts as a mild spinal pain, neck or lower back pain will increase if the fraction between the cartilages also increases this happens because of degeneration of the cartilages. The pain is almost always more severe in the morning and the evening.

A poor diet in combination with spinal arthritis symptoms can make this age related condition worse. Most people are more focused om the health of internal organs but overlook the effects of diet and their general cartilage and bone health. It is a well known fact that an increase of calcium by drinking low fat or skimmed milk or calcium supplements can reduce some symptoms of spinal arthritis.

So watching your diet is a thing we should do when we experience the first symptoms of spinal arthritis It probably will not stop the disease from developing and evolving but it can slow it down.

There also are some amazing arthritis medicine or alternative arthritis pain relief products about which we have published on our website My Rigid Body.

Just remember that all though spinal arthritis is a disease that is related to age it does not mean that you can not suffer from it when your young.

Reclining Desk Chairs

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Recliners are the twentieth century's contribution to the world of seating. It was initiated in 1929, when cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker created the primary upholstered reclining chair. It featured a device that reclined the back and raised a footrest, at the push of a handle.

There are new styles of recliners that present every comfort possible. It is feasible to buy reclining chairs with integral cup holders and pockets to hold books, reading glasses and the remote control and controls, to lift up and lower the foot rest and recline back to the most comfortable position. Long hours of sitting at work can affect the muscles and blood circulation. It is suggested to use reclining chairs for ergonomic comfort.

The reclining chairs feature a tilted base piece that lets you push back for genuine relaxation. The chair follows your body's natural posture, adding support at the seat, below the knees and particularly in the lumbar region. These chairs provide stability and support. Usually, a reclining desk chair stretches the back into a full recline, letting a user read or relax in a flat position that will speedily soothe any overworked part of his body. Many people find sitting in a reclined position most comfortable for their backs.

People with pain from lumbar spinal stenosis or degenerative disc diseases feel most relaxed in a reclined pose with feet propped up, on a footrest. Small tables are available that connect to the reclining chair and can rotate to facilitate the work on a laptop or paperwork. Small breaks should be taken during a day to perk up blood circulation. This promotes sturdy posture, alleviates strain on the eyes and lessens fatigue. The chairs are designed to enhance posture and comfort and provide instant relaxation the moment the chair is reclined.

Sciatica Causes and Chiropractic Treatment

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Sciatica is one of the most common low back injuries seen in chiropractic offices. Sciatica presents as low back, buttock, and leg pain that can be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or burning pain. It is typically one sided but can involve both legs at once. True sciatica can have many causes but the most common result from muscular and skeletal problems in the low back and buttock. Chiropractic care offers fast, natural relief from the pain without the use of harmful prescription drugs and surgery. Tight muscles and spasms can cause the spine to misalign and put pressure on the sciatic nerve. The most common treatment for sciatica is to begin at home with ice and rest. The ice should be applied to the lower back on the side of the leg pain in intervals of 15-20 minutes with about 30 minutes between applications. If the pain does not go away within 3-4 days it is recommended that you go to see a health care professional. Further studies including x-rays, MRI's, or nerve conduction velocity testing may be required in some cases. Once it is determined that there is no serious injury or organic cause for the injury chiropractic is a natural, cost-effective form of treatment that can provide lasting relief from the back and leg pain. Chiropractic treatment usually begins with ice therapy and may include electric muscle stimulation in order to reduce swelling and muscle tension. Specific stretching is then used to loosen the muscles of the back and remove pressure from the sciatic nerve. Using gentle chiropractic adjustments, the chiropractor then realigns the spine in order to remove further tension from the nerve and allow healing and recovery. Then specific stretches and exercises are provided to the patient to be done at home along with icing in order to keep the back looses and strengthen any weak parts. In order to fully understand sciatica I will now discuss in detail the involved structures and the medical explanation behind the mechanism of injury.

In most cases the sciatic nerve is being affected by a number of structures within the lower back and pelvic region. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body measuring 2 cm across at its origin and is formed from the sacral plexus by the ventral rami of L4-S3. It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, travels beneath the anterior portion of the piriformis muscle, passes behind the sacrospinal ligament, and then descends along the posterior aspect of the thigh behind the quadratus femoris muscle to supply the skin of the posterior and lateral portion of the leg and foot as well as motor to the muscles of the posterior thigh, leg, and foot. The sciatic nerve has two main divisions: The tibial nerve and the common peroneal (fibular) nerve. The tibial nerve descends through the popliteal fossa and divides at the flexor retinaculum into the medial and lateral plantar nerves. Its main function is to supply motor innervation to the posterior muscles of the knee joint and leg. The common peroneal nerve descends with the medial aspect of the biceps femoris, and passes over the posterior aspect of the fibular head where it divides into the superficial (lateral compartment of the leg), and deep (anterior compartment) peroneal nerves. The relationship between the sciatic nerve and the piriformis muscle is very important, especially in this case. Normally the sciatic nerve passes inferior to the piriformis muscle as it leaves the inferior portion of the greater sciatic foramen, but in an estimated 12.2% of the population it divides before it enters the gluteal region and the common peroneal division passes directly through the piriformis muscle. In 0.5% of the population it divides early and the common peroneal division crosses the piriformis superiorly. The piriformis muscle itself helps to stabilize the femoral head in the acetabulum and externally rotates the extended thigh and abducts the flexed thigh. It travels from the anterior surface of the sacrum and sacrotuberous ligament to the superior portion of the greater trochanter of the femur. It is innervated by branches of the ventral rami of S1 and S2 and receives no innervation from the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica is defined as sharp pain in the leg along the course of the sciatic nerve caused by irritation, compression, or trauma to the sciatic nerve or its roots. Many factors can lead to the irritation of the sciatic nerve, resulting in low back and leg pain. Mechanical aspects of nerve compression play a large role in sciatica cases. The sciatic nerve can be slowly compressed and deformed from factors such as the multiple disc bulges, disc herniations, degenerative changes such as discogenic spondylosis, facet arthrosis, stenosis, and osteophytosis, and then peripherally at the piriformis muscle. When compression occurs either centrally or peripherally it impairs neural function due to compromise of the vascular supply. When it comes to any nerve compression in the body, the first structures to be compressed are within the venous system causing blood stasis. Venous stasis leads to capillary stasis which then changes the microcirculation to the nervous tissue. This decrease in neural tissue perfusion causes hypoxia or a decrease in oxygen. Without sufficient levels of oxygen the cells can no longer produce the energy rich molecule ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. Without ATP, important Na+/K+ pumps within the neural membrane can no longer maintain the needed ionic gradient across the membrane. This results in the leakage of Na+ into the cell and alteration of the resting membrane potential (RMP) of the nerve. Normally this RMP is -70 mV. During normal depolarization, the threshold for nerve firing is around -55 mV. Once the ionic charge within the nerve reaches this threshold the nerve will fire. The leakage of Na+ into the cell brings the RMP near threshold. This results in a hypersensitized nerve that needs very little input to fire. This is the cause of the associated numbness and paraesthesia in the areas of the sciatic nerve. Pain is also perceived much easier in this state. If the pressure on the nerve is not relieved, chronic hypoperfusion and hypoxia will result in neural death. In cases which involve arthritis, the patient may have advanced osteoarthritic changes throughout the lumbar spine. In the early phases of degenerative joint disease dehydration of the intervertebral disc causes thinning and approximation of bony structures. Damage often begins within the inner portion of the disc which as no innervation and thus goes undetected. As time goes on and compressive forces deform the inner nucleus, shearing and rotational forces cause tears and weakening of annular fibers. The annulus of the disc is highly innervated by the sinuvertebral nerve and can cause a great deal of diffuse low back pain. This weakening can cause disc bulging and herniation into the extradural space and can put compressive and chemical forces into neural structures including the cord and the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve. This will manifest as sharp pain along the nerve route and cause antalgia. If the inner disc materials fully protrude out in later stages of disease it can cause increasing pain and tenderness. This is due to the water attractive properties of glycosamino glycans once out of the contained space of the disc. This hydrophilic swelling will place more pressure on the neural structures. As disc degeneration continues and the bony structures of the vertebral column come in contact with one another, a reflex hypertrophy takes place to protect the surfaces. This is seen in subchondral sclerosis of the vertebral bodies often resulting in space occupying osteophytes protruding into the neural canal. Apophyseal joint arthrosis occurs at the posterior aspect of the neural canals and in Irene's case, hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum occurs. Together, all these degenerative changes produce stenosis in the canal and place extradural compressive forces on the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve. Stenosis can result in one or two sided sciatica. If centralized, bilateral leg pain is more common.

As the sciatic nerve leaves the greater sciatic foramen it can also be compressed as it transverses the piriformis muscle in the gluteal region. Sciatica cases such as these are referred to as piriformis syndrome sciatica, which is very common. Spasm or hypertonicity of the piriformis will compress the sciatic nerve. These peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes usually occur as the nerve passes beneath or through muscles or fibrous tissues. These nerve compression symptoms usually develop gradually with pain and paraesthesia being the most common complaints. Weakness can be seen later in chronic settings although in cases of older individuals this may be hard to detect. These are just a few of the most common causes of sciatica but any severe case should be evaluated by a health care professional if symptoms remain the same or worsen after initial ice and rest routines.

Information on Back Pain-Keeping Your Back Straight

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Your back is a vital body part. It plays an essential role in every part of daily life. Since the back is so important, you want to keep up-to-date on information about back pain and its treatment.

Begin with this basic information.

Information on Back Pain #1 - What Is Your Back?

Back pain can best be understood when you understand the structure of your back, so let's build a spine. Your back consists of 30 small bones called vertebrae. These bones are stacked on top of each other, and connected by ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Your stack of connected vertebrae is divided into four regions. From the base of your skull down to your pelvis, these four regions are:

1. Cervical or neck vertebrae - the top 7

2. Thoracic or upper back vertebrae - the next 12

3. Lumbar or lower back vertebrae - 5 more

4. Sacrum and coccyx - 6 fused bones at the spine's base

Between your vertebrae are round, spongy cartilage pads called disks. Disks act as shock absorbers for your spine. A column-like spinal cord runs through your stack of vertebrae. It, too, is divided into segments similar to nearby vertebrae. Your spinal cord contains nerve roots and nerve rootlets that spread out, sending messages of pain from your back to your brain.

Information on Back Pain #2 - Back Pain's Causes

Back pain is among the most common complaints. It is also one of the most painful. Since it can be difficult to treat, it is important that you have good information on back pain. Most good information on back pain will agree that when you lift something too heavy, you may cause a sprain, pull, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in your back. That will cause back pain.

Let's look at more specific information on back pain.

1. Your cervical spine, or upper back, begins at the base of your skull. It is composed of seven vertebrae with eight pairs of cervical nerves. This part of your spine is designed to support your head and give you mobility.

Injury or mild trauma to the cervical spine can cause one of a number of serious, even life-threatening medical emergencies. You might have a spinal cord injury (SCI) or a fracture. Such injury could cause pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling.

2. Your thoracic spine is just below your cervical spine. Your ribs are connected to this part of the spine. Think of it as the back of your chest. Your thoracic spine is designed to be strong and stable, permitting you to stand upright and protecting your vital internal chest organs. Although thoracic, or middle back pain is rather uncommon, it causes significant pain when it does occur.

The most common causes of middle back pain are muscular irritation and joint dysfunction. You may injure a disk, and cause middle back pain, but such injuries are very rare.

3. Your lumbar spine, or lower back region, is most likely to experience pain. This is because your lumbar region supports the weight of your upper body. It takes the most abuse.

Many things can cause injury and pain to your lower back. As with all parts of the spine, muscle strain or spasm may occur when you lift or carry things that are too heavy. Sprains of ligaments occur in similar manner. You may experience joint problems or a "slipped disk."

The most common cause of lumbar or lower back pain, though, is simply using your back muscles for actions you usually do not do. Perhaps you sit at a desk most days, but one weekend, you help friends move furniture. Or you normally teach school, but during the summer, you decide to create a large vegetable garden in your back yard.

A so-called "slipped disk" (herniated disk) occurs when a disk, one of those spongy cartilage pads between your spines vertebrae bulges out and presses on nerves. This often occurs when you twisting while lifting something. You may not know what caused your slipped disk, if it happens. You will know the lower back pain that comes as a result.

Information on Back Pain #3 - Back Pain and Your Physician

Not every back pain will require a visit to your physician. Many back pains can be treated effectively at home with heating pads and ice packs. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can also give the relief needed. However, there are times when you will want your physician to give information on back pain, and prescribe treatment.

Seek a qualified physician if any of the following is true:

o Your pain is so bad you can't move around

o Your pain is not less after two weeks

o Your pain was caused by an injury

o You have a fever

o You feel nauseous or are vomiting

o You have a stomachache

o You are weak or sweating

o Your pain goes down the leg below your knee

o You lose control over going to the bathroom

o Your foot, leg, rectal, or groin area is numb

Information on Back Pain #4 - Back Pain Prevention

Your health care provider, whether physician, chiropractor or other, will encourage you to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle as part of back pain prevention. The best information on back pain they can provide you is to avoid injury in the first place. Develop healthy back habits. The following five bad habits can cause back pain. Avoid them.

o Twisting when lifting

o Bad posture

o Lack of exercise and too much weight

o Smoking tobacco

o Ignoring back pain

The more information on back pain you have, the better prepared you will be to deal with it.