We often have people that come into the office saying that their neck hurts and their hands are going numb. Numbness and tingling, sometimes called paresthesia can be caused by a pinched nerve in the neck. (1) This is typically called cervical radiculopathy, and it can also appear with muscle weakness. (1) Very tight muscles in the neck or shoulders may cause the nerves to become trapped along their path to the hands. This is like stepping on a garden hose or hitting your funny bone and can affect the sensations at the other end of the nerve. This can also cause a feeling of pins-and-needles or numbness in the hands.
Often chiropractic can help by relieving the pressure on the nerve with an adjustment and releasing the tight muscles. At Solutions Chiropractic, we utilize many different techniques to relieve this issue. Chiropractic care is aimed at aligning the bones of the spine to open the space between the bones. This allows the nerve to be free of impingement while it passes from the spinal cord out to the body. We also have trained massage therapists to help reduce muscle tension and increase muscle range of motion, thereby reducing the pressure on the nerves. Additionally, Dr Dureece is our Doctor of Physical Therapy. She works to balance the muscles and strengthen stabilizers of the neck and/or shoulder if that is the issue.
A thorough history and exam will be performed to help determine the cause of a person’s paresthesia as up to 90% can be resolved using conservative treatments alone. (1)
As always, our trained professionals are on the lookout for more serious issues like diabetes or shingles and will advise you to seek appropriate medical attention as needed. (2)
Yours in Health,
Dr Wendy
References
1. Iyer, S., & Kim, H. J. (2016). Cervical radiculopathy. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine, 9(3), 272–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-016-9349-4.
2. Pietrangelo, Angela. (Aug 2019). Numbness and Tingling. Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/numbness-and-tingling.
