Back Stop Chiropractor

Pinched nerve symptoms, while diverse, can frequently be traced back to a single source: your spine. Pinched nerves can wreak havoc in your life, and understanding their origins and treatment choices is critical to getting relief.

Can a chiropractor help with a pinched nerve? The answer is yes! Chiropractic therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free way to alleviate pinched nerves.

In this post, we’ll go over the benefits of chiropractic care for a pinched nerve while also comparing physical therapists and how they can benefit patients.

But first, let’s look at what a pinched nerve actually is and why chiropractic treatment might be the best option for you.

What is a Pinched Nerve?

Your nervous system is a complicated network that transmits information from your brain, spinal cord, and the rest of your body. When a nerve is crushed by surrounding tissues—such as a bulging disc, inflammation, or even an out of place vertebra—it can become “pinched.” This squeezing impairs the nerve’s capacity to transmit efficiently, resulting in pain and weakness.

Common signs of a pinched nerve:

• Severe discomfort
• Tingling or numbing sensation (sometimes known as “pins and needles”)
• Increased sensitivity
• Muscle weakness (trouble with everyday tasks)
• Muscle spasms or twitching

Surprisingly the pain from a pinched nerve frequently spreads to different parts of the body rather than staying in one location. This is known as referred pain, and the underlying reason (typically in the spine) is not always apparent.

Chiropractor vs Physical Therapist for Pinched Nerve

When living with the agony of a pinched nerve, you may wonder if you should consult a chiropractor or a physical therapist (PT). Both can assist you in managing and relieving your symptoms, but their approaches, strategies, and focus areas vary. Understanding the variations will help you determine the best decision for your situation.

The Chiropractic Route – General Overview

There are many advantages of chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors focus on spinal alignment and total nervous system wellness. The primary goal of treating a pinched nerve is to relieve pressure on the nerve by modifying the spine or afflicted joints. This helps to restore the body’s natural alignment, allowing nerves to function more effectively and without restriction.

Key Advantages of Chiropractic Care:
Spinal Adjustments: Chiropractors utilize manual adjustments to fix imbalances that may be causing nerve pressure.

Quick Relief: Plenty of patients report feeling relief immediately following a session as the strain on their pinched nerve is decreased.

Holistic Style Approach: Chiropractors frequently go beyond the pinched nerve to consider general spinal health and lifestyle variables that may be contributing to the problem.

Chiropractic therapy is very useful for pinched nerves caused by incorrect spinal alignment, disc herniation, or bad posture. Chiropractors treat the underlying cause of nerve compression, offering long-term relief without drugs or intrusive treatments.

If your wondering why is my back sore after visiting the chiropractor, don’t panic, rest and give your body some time to recover.

Physical Therapy Route

Physical therapy, on the other hand, aims to provide relief and strengthen the muscles that surround the damaged nerve. Physical therapists employ exercises, stretches, and other procedures to increase flexibility, mobility, and strength, which can assist in alleviating nerve compression over time.

The main advantages of Physical Therapy:
Tailored Exercises: Physical therapists create individualized exercise routines to strengthen the muscles that surround and support the spine, ultimately relieving pressure and preventing future pain.

Check out examples here –> 12 Exercises for Pinched Nerve in Lower Back.

Injury Prevention: Physical therapists work to improve the way we move, posture, and muscle strength.

Proactive Rehabilitation: Patients are more involved in their treatment by performing recommended activities.

Pinched nerves can be subjective, so whether it’s massage, stretching, mobility, or strengthening, physical therapy is an excellent option for finding relief. PT is often suggested if your pinched nerve is caused by muscular imbalances, incorrect posture, or injuries from repetitive motion.

What’s best for you?

The choice is based on the underlying reason of your pinched nerve and your specific treatment preferences. If your pinched nerve is primarily related to spinal alignment or you want a non-invasive, immediate treatment option, chiropractic care might be your best bet. However, if you want to improve your body and address muscle imbalances that could be causing nerve compression, physical therapy may be more useful.

Typically, both approaches can help each other. You might see a chiropractor for quick relief and spinal adjustments, then work with a physical therapist to build strength and relieve tight muscle problems. Both PTs and Chiros attempt to alleviate pinched nerve discomfort and enhance general function.

If you constantly suffer from RDL related back pain, check out our article on Are RDLs Hurting Your Lower Back? Causes and Treatments.