Pinched Nerves

A pinched nerve can be painful and can be found in many points along the body. It can cause pain, numbness and tingling to shoot down your arm, leg or around the torso. Pinched nerves commonly occur in the neck as cervical radiculopathy and low back as sciatica. In the wrist, it can present as carpal tunnel syndrome. Morton's neuroma is a pinched nerve in the foot. 

Degenerative Disc Disease and Pinched Nerves

Spinal intervertebral discs are compressible discs that separate the vertebra. The discs act as shock absorbers for the spine, allowing it to flex, extend and twist. Degenerative disc disease usually occurs in the lower back and neck. This disease often shows up as a bulging or herniated disc.

Disc Herniation Causes Pinched Spinal Nerves 

Disc herniation is also called protruding, bulging, or ruptured disc based on the level of damage. The intervertebral discs are under constant pressure. As discs degenerate and weaken, cartilage can bulge or be pushed into the space containing the spinal cord or a nerve root, causing pain. Studies have shown that most herniated discs occur in the lower lumbar portion of the spinal column.

A much more serious complication of a ruptured disc is cauda equina syndrome, which occurs when disc material is pushed into the spinal canal and compresses the bundle of lumbar and sacral nerve roots. Permanent neurological damage may result if this syndrome is left untreated.

Treatment Options

For treatment options for pinched nerves and degenerative disc disease, Enliven Chiropractic has several options. We are equipped with the latest chiropractic equipment, physiotherapy  neck traction devices and low back disc spinal decompression machines. Check out our pages on Spinal Decompression.