Pinched Nerve Brooklyn, NY
- Neck, Mid Back & Low Back
- Nerve Source Mapping
- No Drugs or Surgery
Almost everyone has heard the term “pinched nerve.” But medically, that phrase does not tell me very much. I’m Dr. Brian Donovan, and when someone comes into Nuro Chiropractic in Brooklyn saying they think they have a pinched nerve in their neck or back, the first thing I want to know is what they actually mean by that.
“Pinched nerve” is a common way of describing a symptom, not a specific medical diagnosis. In some cases, a nerve or other neurological tissue may genuinely be compressed or irritated. In others, what feels like a pinched nerve may actually be pain coming from a muscle, joint, or another structure, with no nerve involvement at all. That distinction matters because the right approach depends on what is actually causing the symptoms.
What Genuine Nerve Involvement Feels Like
- Burning sensation along with a shooting pain
- Shock-like feeling
- Feels like Being Pricked by Needles
- Numbness in some parts of the body
- Weakness in the limbs
- Pain that follows a specific path
These symptoms don’t immediately point to a neurological issue, and a thorough examination should be done first. However, even if the nerves are involved, identifying the exact location of the problematic ones is needed because they can change which specific treatment plans are needed for them to heal.
Some symptoms that are traveling from the neck and into the arm could mean cervical radiculopathy, where the nerve root is irritated near the spine. However, similar symptoms can also result from a peripheral nerve that’s being compressed farther down the arm, such as in the case of a compression at the wrist. It’s the same principle that’s applied to the legs, where the symptoms may come from a lumbar nerve root or a source that’s not a neurological issue at all.
How Do I Localize a Nerve Issue in Brooklyn?
I am trying to answer four questions, and I’m aware that no single test can determine them all.
- 1 Is a nerve root being irritated as it exits the spine?
- 2 Is a peripheral nerve being compressed farther along its course?
- 3 Is there a disc herniation or degenerative narrowing that correlates with the neurological findings?
- 4 Or is this referred pain from a joint or muscle that feels like a nerve problem and is not one?
So, what I try to determine first is the connections between the patient’s medical history, the sensations that they’re feeling, the examination results, and other factors that may have contributed to the condition. Pain in the arm can mean that the issue can come from the cervical spine and other parts of the body, like the shoulders. Leg symptoms may be connected to the pelvis, and these are checked instead of simply treating the area where it hurts.
Where Imaging and Nerve Testing Fit?
An X-ray can show certain degenerative changes in the body, and this is available in our clinic. However, this test can’t show a pinched nerve, and if I’m concerned about a disc herniation condition, an MRI will be more useful to really know what’s going on.
Sometimes, the question isn’t what the anatomy looks like but whether the nerve is functioning normally. That is where the EMG tests are conducted because they can separate a root from a peripheral nerve problem, and they show how severe the case really is.
“I do not have a single treatment for a pinched nerve. Instead, I have multiple treatments for the different conditions that can affect nerves.”
Dr. Brian Donovan, D.C.Treatment Follows the Diagnosis
- Mild nerve irritation without significant loss of function: treatments can include well-chosen chiropractic techniques, and the doctor may also recommend mobility exercises. He will do soft-tissue treatment, activity modification, and progressive rehabilitation if he knows that they’re appropriate.
- Certain disc-related cervical or lumbar radiculopathies: spinal decompression may be considered when clinically relevant.
- Peripheral nerve entrapment: the treatment may take a different approach where it may focus on specific areas of irritation as well as addressing repetitive activities that may be causing the condition.
When there’s neurological involvement, I get cautious as a doctor. Some of the symptoms that I take into consideration are increasing numbness, loss of coordination, progressive weakness, and difficulty walking because this means that they may need medical evaluation instead of a more conservative treatment.
Symptoms That Are Considered Emergencies
If there’s loss of bladder control or numbness in the groin, these cases may need emergency assessments. This can also happen if there’s sudden weakness on one side of the body, especially if it involves facial drooping. Patients who are having speech difficulties with severe confusion may be dealing with a possible stroke, and it’s not safe to assume that it’s just caused by a pinched nerve.
Neck problems can cause issues with one’s walking, and they may have difficulties coordinating their hands. This can raise questions about the involvement of the spinal cord, and this is why it needs prompt medical evaluation. The doctor will screen them first before deciding the right treatment for the patient.
Pinched Nerve FAQs
Can a chiropractor “unpinch” a nerve?
This is the part that the doctor would push back on because there’s no single chiropractic maneuver that can “unpinch” a nerve. Instead, he will focus on more conservative care that addresses the root cause of the problem that causes the irritation, whether it’s from a problematic disc, and they will craft the right treatment plan once he identifies the underlying cause.
How long does a pinched nerve take to resolve?
The time it would take to heal a pinched nerve can depend on the severity of the symptoms. Mild irritation can generally settle within a couple of weeks, but genuine nerve-root compression can take longer. It’s best to have slow progress rather than going backwards so one can finish the treatment plan faster.
Do I need an MRI or a nerve test?
This can depend on one’s condition, but an MRI can show an image that can confirm a stenosis condition, which is the narrowing of a blood vessel in the body. EMG is a diagnostic procedure that evaluates the health of the skeletal muscles, and these tests will help the doctor know whether the problem sits farther along the nerve, but some cases don’t necessarily need these tests.
Is it safe to be adjusted with a pinched nerve?
It depends on the neurological findings, which is why the examination comes first. Some conditions do well with an appropriately selected technique. Others call for a gentler approach to heal, while many may need an entirely different treatment through a referral. Spine adjustment that happens because of just a suspicion of a pinched nerve may not work.
Can a pinched nerve cause permanent damage?
Prolonged significant compression can leave lasting damage, which is why progressive weakness or worsening numbness changes my urgency in treating these cases. Most patients don’t head that way, though, but the ones that do have some symptoms that were caught early, and this is what a neurological examination is for.
The Difference Between Treating a Label and Treating a Diagnosis
Do not ask how to unpinch the nerve. Ask whether a nerve is actually involved, which one, where along its pathway, how severe the involvement is, and what is causing it. Once we have those answers, the right next step can become the right treatment plan that can speed up healing.
Nuro Chiropractic, 9408 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209. Serving Bay Ridge, Staten Island, Bensonhurst, Park Slope, Prospect Park, Borough Park, Manhattan, Dyker Heights, Williamsburg, and the greater Brooklyn area.