I’m asked this question frequently in my practice. When the profession of chiropractic was in it’s infancy much of chiropractic treatment was aimed at un-pinching a nerve. After much research, we now know that “pinched” nerves are rare. A nerve that is under physical pressure usually produces numbness as a symptom and may not be painful. We know that the painful symptoms that we feel with spinal conditions are more likely to be the result of subluxated spinal bones adjecent to the nerve which can then be irritated, stretched, rubbed or chafed.
Poor spinal mechanics due to trauma or degenerative processes can be enough to produce physical and chemical changes to the involved tissues and pain and stiffness can result.
There are times when more serious conditions can cause pressure on the nervous tissues of the spine. Tumors, infections and protruding disk material can all produce symptoms that appear to be a “pinched nerve”. For that reason a thorough exam should be performed to rule these out and a proper diagnosis be given.
Chiropractic spinal adjustments are designed to restore correct joint mechanics and thereby relieve irritated tissues and allow the body to heal. And they still do a great job at un-pinching nerves.
