Here at Mapleview Chiropractic Centre, a large portion of our patients seek us out because they want relief from pain, and in many cases the ultimate source of that pain is pinched nerves. Many people are familiar with the concept of pinched nerves, but don’t know how to recognize the signs in their own bodies. In this article, we’ll go over some key information about the symptoms of pinched nerves in order to tell when this issue may be affecting you. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, we encourage you to give us a call:
- Numbness – If you experience numbness or a decrease in sensation in part of your body, you probably have a pinched nerve. When nerves are compressed, less sensory information can travel back and forth between the brain and the area supplied by the nerve, leading to numbness.
- Pins and Needles – In addition to loss of sensation, pinched nerves often cause a tingling, pins-and-needles feeling in the affected area. If you find that an arm or leg is falling asleep frequently, it’s worth talking to a chiropractor to get the issue assessed.
- Pain – Another symptom caused by pinched nerves is sharp, burning or aching pain, which often radiates outwards from the site of the nerve compression.
- Muscle Weakness – Pinched nerves can also cause muscle weakness in the affected area. In addition to sensory data, your nerves also carry signals to your muscles, and when the nerve becomes compressed, those signals are less able to get through. This results in your muscles wavering, as they aren’t receiving the signal that tells them what to do.