A pinched nerve is a nerve that is being compressed or irritated where it leaves the spine, usually by a misaligned vertebra, a bulging disc, or tight muscles around the joint. The result is pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels along the path of that nerve into the arm or leg. At Limitless Chiropractic in Ballantyne, we find the exact level where the pressure is coming from and relieve it gently.
Nerve pain feels different from muscle pain. It burns, buzzes, or shoots, and it often shows up somewhere far from the actual problem. Numbness in your fingers can start in your neck. A burning calf can start in your low back.
That is why we measure before we treat. 3D imaging shows us which vertebra is out of position, and thermography shows where the nervous system is under stress, so we are correcting the cause rather than chasing the symptom.
Common signs of a pinched nerve
- Numbness or tingling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes
- Sharp, burning, or electric pain that travels down an arm or leg
- Weak grip or a foot that feels heavy
- Pain that changes when you turn your head or bend
- Symptoms that are worse at night or after sitting
Where the pressure usually comes from
In the neck, a pinched nerve sends symptoms into the shoulder, arm, and hand. It often follows years of forward head posture, an old injury, or a car accident. In the low back, it sends symptoms into the hip, leg, and foot, and is often called sciatica.
Sometimes the cause is a joint out of position. Sometimes it is a disc. Often it is both, with the surrounding muscles tightening to protect the area and making the squeeze worse.
How we relieve it
Care starts with gentle, specific adjustments to restore the alignment around the nerve. When a disc is involved, we add spinal decompression to give it room. We show you which positions and habits are aggravating the nerve so you can stop feeding the problem between visits.
Nerves recover more slowly than muscles. Pain often eases first, and numbness takes longer. We track your progress with re-exams so you can see what is changing.