A pinched nerve occurs when pressure from surrounding tissues, such as bone or cartilage, disrupts nerve function while also causing pain and tingling, as well as numbness and weakness. While a pinched nerve can occur in any joint on the body, many Americans suffer from pinched nerves along the spine. Fortunately, help is available. If you are looking for a chiropractor in Towson, discover Comprehensive Spine and Sports Center in nearby Essex.
Learn More About a Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerves are most often due to age; however, degenerative changes can also occur from an injury or trauma. The nerve roots that branch out from the spinal cord, the vertebrae, and the flexible intervertebral disks all play a major role in a pinched nerve.
Some patients have experienced numbness or decreased sensation in the areas affected by the pinched nerve. For example, sciatica refers to the pain from a pinched sciatic nerve, which can be felt not only in the lower back, but in the legs and feet as well. Some may also experience muscle spasms and loss of some reflexes.
Causes of a Pinched Nerve
Patients can experience these symptoms at any age, but they are more common between the ages of 30 to 60. A common cause of a pinched nerve in the lower back is due to degenerative changes. Although, other causes include a traumatic injury or chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
As we age, intervertebral disks, which work as shock absorbers while walking and running, lose their height and water content. Consequently, they bulge and become stiff. As the vertebrae move closer together, they can pinch the nerve in between. Then, the body reacts by forming bone spurs around the disk to strengthen the bone, but this also contributes to even more stiffening in the spine. Additionally, the bone spurs themselves can contribute to a pinched nerve root, if the bone spurs cause the small openings from the spine to narrow.
Chiropractor in Towson: Comprehensive Spine and Sports Center
By using spinal manipulations and specific rehabilitation exercises, Dr. Cohen and his team at Comprehensive Spine & Sports specialize in relieving patients from back and neck pain, including discomfort from injuries and surgery. Contact Comprehensive Spine & Sports to find out more about our services.
