So you’ve either been told you have a pinched nerve or you’re attempting to self-diagnose. Before continuing with this blog I suggest you read my previous blog, What is a Pinched Nerve?, to understand the root of your problem. Then come back to this blog to find out what the treatment should be.
Depending on where your pinched nerve is:
- Lower back
- Shoulder
- Wrist
- Between the shoulder blades
Your symptoms may vary, but the treatment plan is very similar so let’s get into it.
Who Treats Pinched Nerves?
First things first, who do you go see to get treatment for a pinched nerve? For musculoskeletal injuries, which a pinched nerve is, you end up either seeing a Physical Therapist (PT) or a Chiropractor.
The question then is if you should see a PT or a chiropractor. I have written a blog on the Difference Between a Chiropractor and Physical Therapist that I encourage you to read. Typically your PCP refers to a PT only because that’s what they are used to. But that does not necessarily mean you are better off going through that route. Frankly, a large number of my patients come from PT offices because either the treatment did not work or did not last long.
Not all PTs and Chiropractors are created equal in terms of the care they provide. For example, I specialize in what is called Postural Neurology, which we will discuss more in the sections below. When choosing an office for your treatment, do your research to make sure you are getting the treatment you actually need to feel better and stay healthier.
Pinched Nerve Pain Relief
If you walk into my office in pain, then the first step is to get you out of pain, which we accomplish with a few different techniques. Chiropractic adjustment certainly has its benefits, but alone will not fix your problem.
With a pinched nerve, it’s common to have:
- Muscle tightness
- Decreased range of motion
- Movement dysfunction
What muscles and joints specifically need to be worked on will depend on where the pinched nerve is and can vary from case to case. I find the best method of getting rid of the trigger points contributing to pain to be Active Release Technique (ART).
This first stage of treatment is all about getting you out of pain so that we can move on to the most important part of any treatment. Which is to not only get rid of the cause but also the ‘feeders’ of the cause.
How to Fix a Pinched Nerve?
If your goal is to stay out of pain, then you’re going to want to pay extra attention to this section. What good is a treatment if you never address what caused your pinched nerve to begin with? As we discussed in our blog on pinched nerves, the cause is typically due to postural decline. And it is most commonly seen in people who sit behind a desk for work every day. Why is that?
When you sit behind a computer all day, you force your body to function in a way it was not designed to function. This is called dysfunction. If you are staring down at a screen, this guarantees neck pain and down the road will lead to:
- Shoulder pain
- Tightness in the arm
- Pain between shoulder blades
- Headaches
- Pain down the arm
All of these things are looked at as separate problems but in reality, they are different parts of the same ‘story’. So one of the most important steps in treating and preventing musculoskeletal injuries is Ergonomic Correction. If that rings a tune with you, make sure to use my Ergonomic Checklist to self-evaluate your work setting. You don’t have to be experiencing pain to make the changes on the list. Prevention is the smartest way to live life.
The Missing Key in Pinched Nerve Treatment
Now unfortunately, the neurology behind your pain takes more time and very specific work to change. But trust me you don’t want to skip this step!
In your brain, there is a map for movement of all your body parts called homunculus. This map can be compromised from:
- Injury
- Lifestyle
- Incomplete treatment of a previous injury
That is the beauty of the human body; it is highly adaptable. But every time there is an adaptation and tweaking of the ‘factory design’, you are working closer to dysfunction.
Postural Neurology is the most ignored part of all musculoskeletal conditions. We are too busy treating the problem area as if they work in isolation. That is why our healthcare system is a failing system. Watch this video to understand what Postural Neurology is and why you should never ignore exercising your brain just like your muscles to bring back the lost functions.
So how do we do this? Everyone thinks their recommended exercises are the best and the most effective ones. But what better evidence, as to what is the most suitable exercise, than us knowing how every baby on this planet goes through the same developmental stages of movement. If these step-by-step developments in muscles, joints, nerves, tendons, and soft tissue is universal, then why do we keep creating yet another “best and most effective” exercise? And how come they go out of popularity over time?
Developmental Kinesiology or Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization exercises to correct your movement and treat the neurology behind your pain is how, at our clinic, we address all issues. Everyone’s ‘story’ is unique, their weaknesses and strengths are different but the solution is always the same.
Now What?
Now that you know ART, Postural Neurology, and Developmental Kinesiology should be at the core of any treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, start looking for practitioners that provide these. And read their reviews! Check out my Youtube Channel for videos with more information on these treatments and plenty of exercises that are a great resource for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
Dr. Shakib