Is it possible the pain going down my leg isn’t coming from my leg?? Or that my hand numbness didn’t originate from my hand?? Yes! Welcome to nerve pain, or as we call it, radiculopathy!
Anatomy of the peripheral nervous system
Every nerve in your body originates from the spinal cord, which can be pictured as a big bundle of nerves exiting the brain and running down your spine. Between every vertebra of your spine, there is a foramen (small hole), where a nerve leaves the spinal cord to travel through a specific territory of your body. In simplistic terms, the nerves exiting the spine of your neck will innervate the arms, neck, and head. The nerves exiting the spine of your low back will innervate the legs, and several organs of the lower abdomen. The nerves exiting the spine in your mid-back will innervate the trunk and vital organs.
What can pinch a nerve?
A nerve can be compressed by structures anywhere from it’s origin in the spine, to its exit from the foramen between the vertebra, and anywhere down its course in the limbs and trunk. Here are common areas of compression:
- Within the spinal canal by either: a disc bulge; a thickening of ligaments lining the canal; a thickening of the bony structures lining the canal (spinal stenosis), or a pathology within the spinal canal.
- By the small hole (foramen) between the vertebra by either: a lateral disc bulge, a thickening of the bony structures surrounding the foramen (facet hypertrophy), a vertebral subluxation complex (vertebrae misalignment).
- Once the nerve has exited the spine and is traveling to the periphery of the body, it may be compressed by muscular, bony or fascia structures.
To determine what is causing your “pinched nerve”, your chiropractor will perform a thorough physical exam to determine what structure is causing the issue. The treatment will then address the root cause of the nerve compression.
Symptoms of a “pinched nerve”
You may feel the pains of the nerve compression at its source (in the spine or pelvis), and in the territory of that nerve within your body (extremities and organs). Common symptoms of nerve irritation are:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Burning
- Loss of sensation
- Loss of strength
- Loss of reflex (evaluated by your chiropractor)
- Organ dysfunction (i.e. digestive issues, urinary issues, etc)
Note: not all symptoms are present at the same time, or are needed to diagnose a nerve irritation.
What to do about it
Consult your chiropractor, who will determine the root cause of your problem and treat it accordingly. The treatment is hands-on, and you may receive exercises and recommendations to support your treatment at home!