Pinched Nerve Relief 

by Kevin O'Hara

The term "pinched nerve" is a bit of a catch-all phrase commonly used to describe the pain associated with a variety of conditions such as | subluxations, | tunnel syndromes, | and | referred pain | from | trigger points.

Frequently, when someone says they have a | pinched nerve, | it is actually an irritated or inflamed nerve, but the nerve itself is not actually pinched. In most cases, | irritated | and | inflamed nerves | occur when the bones, joints, or muscles of the spine are either not in their proper position or are not moving properly. This condition is called a subluxation, and O’Hara Family Chiropractic specializes in treating it.

There are instances when nerves do actually become pinched, as with | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, | Sciatica, | and | Thoracic Outlet Syndrome |. In each of these cases, pain is due to | injury, | spasm, | or | inflammation | of the surrounding muscles and connective tissue becoming compressed. These conditions are referred to as "tunnel syndromes." Treatment for a spinal subluxation is much simpler than treating complex | tunnel syndromes; | however, they usually respond very well to chiropractic care, especially in conjunction with other physical therapies such as exercises and stretches.

Trigger points are very tight "knots" of muscle that develop when muscles are chronically overworked or injured. Patients usually complain of a pinching or burning pain in the area. Trigger points commonly cause pain that spreads to other parts of the body. This is known as | referred pain. Trigger points are successfully treated with a combination of chiropractic care, stretching, and | deep tissue massage | called | trigger point therapy.

It is imperative that the cause of pain be correctly diagnosed. This is especially important when the irritation or compression to the nerve is severe or long-term, as this can lead to permanent | nerve damage. | If you have been told that you have a | pinched nerve, | it is necessary that you seek professional care from a chiropractor as soon as possible. Contact O’Hara Family Chiropractic today!