Back Clinic Nerve Injury Team. Nerves are fragile and can be damaged by pressure, stretching, or cutting. Injury to a nerve can stop signals to and from the brain, causing muscles not to work properly and losing feeling in the injured area. The nervous system manages a great majority of the body’s functions, from regulating an individual’s breathing to controlling their muscles as well as sensing heat and cold. But, when trauma from an injury or an underlying condition causes nerve injury, an individual’s quality of life may be greatly affected. Dr. Alex Jimenez explains various concepts through his collection of archives revolving around the types of injuries and condition which can cause nerve complications as well as discuss the different form of treatments and solutions to ease nerve pain and restore the individual’s quality of life.
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Nerve irritation occurs when the nerves exiting the spine become irritated and sensitized. Also known as nerve gliding restriction, it is a condition whereby a nerve becomes irritated by inflamed swelling of structures close to the nerve, such as joints, ligaments, muscles, or discs, that have sustained an accumulative strain which results in swelling and inflammation. A thorough chiropractic assessment and examination can diagnose the extent of the irritation and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Nerve Irritation
When swelling and inflammation interfere with the nerve root, the nerve transmits signals to the brain to let it know there is a threat. The brain interprets these signals and creates a protective response to avoid worsening the damage to the nerve. The protective reactions vary from person to person but can include the following:
Muscle tightness and guarding
Aching sensation
Cramping
Radiating discomfort or pain
Pins and needles
Tingling
Numbness
Nerve root irritation also inhibits the body from recovering as fast as it should.
Nerve irritation is not to be confused with nerve root compression or radiculopathy. This is when the nerve becomes compressed/pinched, resulting in the loss of its functions like muscle strength and sensation. Sometimes individuals with nerve irritation can also experience increased neural tension. The nerves adapt to the mechanical loads placed on them through regular movements. Restrictions to neural mobility can cause symptoms to worsen along the pathway and distribution of the nerve.
The nervous system consists of the brain, spine, and nerve branches.
The branches, similar to electrical cables, cannot stretch.
Tension is generated when straightening out body areas, creating a pull and gliding of the nerve to the spinal cord.
When nerve irritation occurs, signals are sent to protect the body, brain, spine, and branches.
Causes
Most commonly, nerve irritation occurs when a structure adjacent to the nerve; this could be a joint, ligament, and/or muscle that accumulates strain and becomes dysfunctional, swollen, inflamed, and/or spasms resulting from protective guarding.
Mild nerve irritation can include accumulated strain from postural overload and swelling from a minor tear in an adjacent ligament.
Often nothing shows as a problem on an MRI scan.
Severe nerve irritation can include disc herniation and shows up on an MRI scan; surgery could be required in some cases.
Symptoms
Stiffness
Tightness
Aches
Pains
Persist even after days of rest, stretching, targeted exercises, avoiding movements, etc.
Stretching feels good at first, but the pain returns or worsens a few hours later or the next day.
The irritation blocks the effective recovery of muscle, joint, tendon, and ligament discomfort symptoms.
Chiropractic Care
Treatment involves various therapies and strengthening the supporting structures while relaxing and releasing tight structures to avoid recurring injuries. Chiropractic care realigns the spine, corrects joints that have shifted out of place, helps to regulate the nervous system’s function, and relieves irritation and inflammation. Whether in the form of an adjustment, traction, or guided exercise, all systems in the body are moved closer to a balanced state. This includes the:
Nervous system
Immune system
Respiratory system
Circulatory system
Endocrine system
Skeletal system
All help support the body’s self-healing process and increase the nervous system’s function.
The chiropractic team will guide the patient through the rehabilitation process to get back to full strength.
Peroneal Nerve Irritation
References
Ellis, Richard F, and Wayne A Hing. “Neural mobilization: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with an analysis of therapeutic efficacy.” The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy vol. 16,1 (2008): 8-22. doi:10.1179/106698108790818594
Gibson, William, et al. “Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for neuropathic pain in adults.” The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 9,9 CD011976. 14 Sep. 2017, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011976.pub2
O’Shea, Simone D et al. “Peripheral muscle strength training in COPD: a systematic review.” Chest vol. 126,3 (2004): 903-14. doi:10.1378/chest.126.3.903
Rozmaryn, L M et al. “Nerve and tendon gliding exercises and the conservative management of carpal tunnel syndrome.” Journal of hand therapy: official Journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists vol. 11,3 (1998): 171-9. doi:10.1016/s0894-1130(98)80035-5
Sipko, Tomasz, et al. “Mobility of cervical spine and postural equilibrium in patients with spinal overload syndrome.” Ortopedia, traumatologia, rehabilitacja vol. 9,2 (2007): 141-8.
In cold weather, it’s normal to experience cold hands and fingers. But if there is a coldness in only one finger while the rest of the hand is normal, changes to skin color, numbness, tingling, or pain symptoms could be a sign of poor circulation or an underlying medical condition. Cold fingers could indicate various problems, including overuse injuries, vitamin deficiencies, Raynaud’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, anemia, arterial disease, or an autoimmune condition. Chiropractic care and massage therapy can increase circulation, release compressed nerves, relax the muscles, and restore mobility and function.
Cold Fingers
Blood circulates throughout, nourishing and maintaining body warmth. When compression, obstructions, or narrowing paths inhibit blood flow, the body cannot achieve proper circulation. Unhealthy circulation can cause several symptoms, including:
Pins and needles sensations along the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers.
Weakened arm and hand muscles.
Numbness.
Cold finger/s.
Muscles aches, soreness, and tightness.
Swelling.
Pale or bluish skin color.
Overuse Injury
Repeating one movement or motion constantly over time can lead to overuse syndrome/repetitive motion disorder in the hands and arms. Certain jobs and activities can cause overuse syndrome, including:
Cashiers.
Food service work.
Graphic sign work.
Computer work.
Sewing work.
Landscaping.
All of these jobs and activities can put a lot of repeated stress on the hands and arms.
Vitamin B-12 Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 is required for proper red blood cell formation and neurological function. It is found in many foods, including eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and dairy products. A vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause neurological symptoms like numbness, tingling, and coldness in the hands and feet. Other symptoms include:
Anemia
Fatigue
Weakness
Difficulty maintaining balance
Depression
Soreness of the mouth
A doctor requires a blood sample to test for the deficiency. A common treatment is a high dose of an oral supplement or injections for individuals that have difficulties absorbing B-12 through the digestive tract.
Raynaud’s Syndrome
Raynaud’s syndrome is a condition that causes some areas of the body, usually the fingers, to feel cold and numb when exposed to cold temperatures or high-stress levels. This happens because the small arteries that supply blood to the skin are experiencing spasms. During an episode, the arteries narrow, which prevents blood from circulating correctly. The fingers can change color, going from white to blue to red. When the flare-up ends, and the blood flow returns to normal, there may be tingling, throbbing, or swelling. The condition isn’t usually debilitating, and treatment options often include medications that expand the blood vessels to improve circulation. These include calcium channel blockers,alpha-blockers, and vasodilators.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones. Hypothyroidism comes on gradually and rarely generates symptoms in the early stages. Hypothyroidism doesn’t cause cold fingers but increases the body’s sensitivity to cold. Other symptoms include:
Fatigue
Muscle weakness, tenderness, and achiness.
Joint swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Puffiness.
Dry skin.
Hoarseness.
Weight gain.
High or elevated cholesterol levels.
Thinning hair and hair loss.
Depression.
Over time, the condition can cause complications such as obesity, joint pain, heart disease, and infertility. A doctor can detect hypothyroidism with a simple blood test. Treatment involves taking a daily dose of synthetic thyroid hormone.
Anemia
Anemia is when the blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells. It also occurs when the red blood cells lack a crucial iron-rich protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin assists red blood cells in delivering oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. A low supply of hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the hands can result in cold fingers. There may also be fatigue and weakness. Iron deficiency is what typically causes most cases. A doctor may suggest nutritional adjustments if blood work indicates low iron levels. An iron-rich nutritional plan and taking iron supplements can help relieve symptoms.
Arterial Diseases
Diseases that affect the arteries can reduce blood flow to the hands, causing cold fingers. This can be from plaque buildup or inflammation in the blood vessels. Any blockage in the blood vessels can prevent blood from circulating normally. Another arterial problem is primary pulmonary hypertension, which affects the lungs’ arteries and can lead to Raynaud’s syndrome.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic adjustments can remove misalignments, restore proper nerve communication, increase blood flow, and correct an overactive sympathetic nervous system. Massaging the shoulders, arms, and hands relaxes the nerves, and muscles, breaks up compressed tissues, and increase blood flow. The circulation of lymphatic fluid around the body is also promoted, which carries toxins away from the muscles and tissues. To improve circulation, the following may be utilized:
Deep tissue pressure is effective at relieving congestion and tension.
Percussive massage to break up scar tissue.
Non-surgical Decompression to stretch the spine and body out.
Lymphatic drainage is designed to improve the circulation of the fluid.
Bilić, R et al. “Sindromi prenaprezanja u saci, podlaktici i laktu” [Overuse injury syndromes of the hand, forearm and elbow]. Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju vol. 52,4 (2001): 403-14.
Ernst, E. “Manual therapies for pain control: chiropractic and massage.” The Clinical journal of pain vol. 20,1 (2004): 8-12. doi:10.1097/00002508-200401000-00003
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. How does the blood circulatory system work? 2010 Mar 12 [Updated 2019 Jan 31]. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279250/
Pal, B et al. “Raynaud’s phenomenon in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.” Scandinavian journal of rheumatology vol. 25,3 (1996): 143-5. doi:10.3109/03009749609080004
Waller, D G, and J R Dathan. “Raynaud’s syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome.” Postgraduate medical journal vol. 61,712 (1985): 161-2. doi:10.1136/pgmj.61.712.161
Neck injuries and whiplash symptoms can be minor and go away within a few days. However, whiplash symptoms can manifest days later and become varied and chronic, ranging from severe pain to cognitive problems. These are collectively called whiplash-associated disorders because of the varied complexity of the symptoms. A common condition is a whiplash nerve injury. These injuries can be severe and require chiropractic treatment.
Whiplash Nerve Injury
Surrounding muscles, tissues, bones, or tendons can cause a whiplash nerve injury. The neck’s spinal nerve roots become compressed or inflamed, leading to cervical radiculopathy symptoms of tingling, weakness, and numbness that can radiate down the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. Typically, cervical radiculopathy is only felt on one side of the body, but in rare cases, it can be felt on both sides if more than one nerve root is affected.
Neurological Cervical Radiculopathy
Neurological problems can become severe and can reduce the ability to perform many routine tasks, such as gripping or lifting objects, writing, typing, or getting dressed.
Cervical radiculopathy involves one or more of the following neurological deficiencies.
Sensory – Feelings of numbness or reduced sensation. There can also be tingling and electrical sensations.
Motor – Weakness or reduced coordination in one or more muscles.
Reflex – Changes in the body’s automatic reflex responses. An example is a diminished ability or reduced hammer reflex exam.
Symptoms
Because every case is different, symptoms vary depending on the location and severity. Symptoms can flare up with certain activities, like looking down at a phone. The symptoms then go away when the neck is upright. For others, symptoms can become chronic and do not resolve when the neck is resting and supported. Common symptoms include:
Fatigue
Decreased energy levels could be related to sleep problems, depression, stress, pain, concussion, or nerve damage.
Memory and/or concentration problems
Cognitive symptoms could involve difficulty with memory or thinking.
Symptoms can start shortly after the injury or not appear until hours or days later.
Cognitive problems could be from a brain injury or related to various types of stress.
Headaches
This could be neck muscles tightening or a nerve or joint becoming compressed or irritated.
Dizziness
Dizziness could be from neck instability, a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury, and nerve damage.
Vision problems
Blurry vision or other visual deficits could result from any number of causes, including concussion or nerve damage.
Vision problems could also contribute to dizziness.
Ringing in the ears
Also called tinnitus, this can be ringing or buzzing in one or both ears and can range from intermittent and minor to constant and severe.
Whiplash complications such as injury to the brain region that controls hearing, nerve or vascular damage, jaw injury, or stress can lead to tinnitus.
Chiropractic Care
The appropriate chiropractic treatment is unique to each whiplash nerve injury and is directed at the primary dysfunctions detected during the initial examination. A personalized treatment plan addresses factors in an individual’s work, home, and recreational activities. Treatment includes:
Massage manual and percussive for nerve and muscle relaxation
Goldsmith R, Wright C, Bell S, Rushton A. Cold hyperalgesia as a prognostic factor in whiplash-associated disorders: A systematic review. Man Ther. 2012; 17: 402-10.
McAnany SJ, Rhee JM, Baird EO, et al. Observed patterns of cervical radiculopathy: how often do they differ from a standard “Netter diagram” distribution? Spine J. 2018. pii: S1529-9430(18)31090-8.
Murphy DR. History and physical examination. In: Murphy DR, ed. Conservative Management of Cervical Spine Syndromes. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000:387-419.
Shaw, Lynn, et al. “A systematic review of chiropractic management of adults with Whiplash-Associated Disorders: recommendations for advancing evidence-based practice and research.” Work (Reading, Mass.) vol. 35,3 (2010): 369-94. doi:10.3233/WOR-2010-0996
Travell JG, Simons DG. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Vol. 1, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkens, 1999.
Pinched Nerves and Muscle Spasms: A pinched or compressed nerve can occur in various body regions, from the wrist to the foot. When a nerve is compressed, a pins and needles feeling can present until the pressure is relieved, or there can be no sensation symptoms, but other symptoms like muscle spasms, especially in the arm or leg, can appear. Individuals will feel a repetitive fluttering or twitching when the arm or leg is not in motion. A pinched nerve could be the cause of spasms in the back or extremities. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can help if symptoms are not stopping or worsening.
Pinched Nerves and Muscle Spasms
When multiple symptoms appear, individuals may not realize they are connected. Individuals may think aches, pains, and spasms are normal aging processes. Pinched nerves occur when there is an impingement on any one of the numerous nerves of the spine. Impingements can be caused by:
Repetitive motion injuries
Disc degeneration
Herniated/ruptured discs
Bone spurs
Arthritis
Trauma injury
The pain symptoms from the spasm can be quick, sharp, or pulsating and throbbing. The muscles respond by tightening or spasming as the nerve sends interrupted/incomplete signals. In addition to muscle spasms, a pinched nerve can contribute to other symptoms, including the following.
Tingling
Numbness
Pins and needles sensation
Reduced range of motion
Muscle weakness
Signs a Pinched Nerve Might Be Causing Spasms
Sudden shooting pain that radiates down the leg or arm.
Weak muscles
Muscle atrophy – shrinking or deteriorating.
Chronic tingling in the extremities.
A burning sensation in a specific area; this could but is not necessarily the source of the pinched nerve.
Electrical shock-type pain accompanies the spasms.
If a pinched nerve is left untreated and continues to generate symptoms, it can affect daily life and lead to uncomfortable long-term issues. Severe nerve compression combined with inflammation can cause damage to nearby soft tissues and muscles, leading to chronic conditions. When the nerves are damaged, it can be harder to control the muscles making certain motions uncomfortable or difficult to move certain body parts.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care, massage, and decompression therapy will relieve pinched nerves and muscle spasms and restore neuromusculoskeletal system function. The body will be realigned, and patients will be trained on stretching exercises, muscle strengthening, posture training, and nutritional support to optimize the body’s natural healing abilities to repair the damaged nerves.
Low Back Pain
References
Bustamante, S, and P G Houlton. “Swelling of the leg, deep venous thrombosis, and the piriformis syndrome.” Pain research & management vol. 6,4 (2001): 200-3. doi:10.1155/2001/104091
Chu, Eric Chun-Pu, and Robert J Trager. “Thoracic Schwannoma as an Unusual Cause of Sciatic Pain in the Chiropractic Office: A Case Report.” The American journal of case reports vol. 23 e938448. 16 Nov. 2022, doi:10.12659/AJCR.938448
Coletti, Roger H. “The ischemic model of chronic muscle spasm and pain.” European journal of translational myology vol. 32,1 10323. 18 Jan. 2022, doi:10.4081/ejtm.2022.10323
Hirayama, Jiro, et al. “Relationship between low-back pain, muscle spasm and pressure pain thresholds in patients with lumbar disc herniation.” The European spine journal: official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society vol. 15,1 (2006): 41-7. doi:10.1007/s00586-004-0813-2
Kennedy, John G, and Donald E Baxter. “Nerve disorders in dancers.” Clinics in sports medicine vol. 27,2 (2008): 329-34. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2008.01.001
Waddell, Roger K. “Chiropractic care for a patient with spasmodic dysphonia associated with cervical spine trauma.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 4,1 (2005): 19-24. doi:10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60108-6
Nerve damage is also known as peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral nerves transmit information to and from the brain through the spinal cord to the rest of the body. Nerve damage symptoms are common in the neck, arms, hands, low back, legs, and feet. Communication becomes weakened, interrupted, or no longer transmits sensation signals. Nerve damage can be a complication from conditions like diabetes or present after an injury. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic recognize the symptoms and can treat the injuries rehabilitating the nerves back to functional health.
Nerve Damage Symptoms
Nerve damage symptoms can happen to a single nerve or a group of nerves that can affect the rest of the body. Damage depends on the severity of the condition or injury.
Partially damaged nerves can heal on their own with minimal treatment to ensure they heal correctly.
The fibers are covered with tissues that are a type of insulation.
Sometimes only the fibers get damaged.
Sometimes a nerve gets stuck or jammed inside a tight space, causing irritation and, over time, scarring.
Severe nerve damage can involve the fibers and tissues and often require surgery.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and depend on which nerve fibers are damaged. These could be the following:
Motor nerves
These nerves regulate all the muscles under conscious control.
These control motor functions like walking, talking, and grabbing and holding objects.
Damage to these nerves usually causes muscle weakness, cramps, and uncontrollable muscle twitching or spasms.
Sensory nerves
These nerves relay sensory information, including touch, taste, smell, vision, temperature, and pain.
Symptoms can include numbness or tingling.
There can also be difficulties:
Sensing pain
Sensing temperature changes.
Walking
Maintaining balance with your eyes closed.
Working with the hands.
Autonomic nerves
This group of nerves regulates unconscious actions, including breathing, heart and thyroid function, and digestion.
Symptoms include excessive sweating, blood pressure variations, inability to tolerate heat, and gastrointestinal issues.
Various symptoms can be experienced as many peripheral nerve injuries affect more than one type of nerve.
Signs
Improperly functioning nerves can cause uncomfortable or painful sensations because the nerves cannot carry the correct signals from the brain to the spinal cord. The signs of nerve damage include the following:
Feeling like you’re wearing an overly tight glove or sock constricting circulation and movement.
Numbness or tingling.
Pins and needles or what feels like mild electrical sensations.
Specific body/limb positions can cause or decrease numbness, tingling, or pins and needles.
Muscle weakness.
Dropping objects regularly.
Sharp pains in the hands, arms, low back, legs, or feet.
Restoring Function
Chiropractic treatments can help restore function and include:
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage will promote circulation to relieve numbness and tightness and help restore function and feeling.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic adjustments will realign the body and keep affected muscles and joints active.
Electrical Stimulation
Stimulators can activate injured nerves and muscles while the nerve regenerates and recovers.
Braces or Splints
These devices could be used to maintain the position of the affected limb, fingers, hand, or foot to improve muscle function and promote healing.
Exercise
Specifically, prescribed exercises will improve muscle strength, help to maintain range of motion, and reduce muscle cramps.
Diet
A nutritionist will develop a personalized anti-inflammatory diet to expedite healing.
Peripheral Therapy
References
Chen, Zhengrong. “Progress of peripheral nerve repair.” Chinese Journal of traumatology = Zhonghua Chuang Shang za Zhi vol. 5,6 (2002): 323-5.
Gordon, Tessa. “Electrical Stimulation to Enhance Axon Regeneration After Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Animal Models and Humans.” Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics vol. 13,2 (2016): 295-310. doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0415-1
WEBB, E M. “Peripheral nerve injuries; early surgical treatment.” California medicine vol. 80,3 (1954): 151-3.
Welch, J A. “Peripheral nerve injury.” Seminars in veterinary medicine and surgery (small animal) vol. 11,4 (1996): 273-84. doi:10.1016/s1096-2867(96)80020-x
Spinal nerves send motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the central nervous system and the body and are part of the peripheral nervous system. They are essential for carrying information that controls body movements and sensations to the brain. When a nerve gets injured, compressed, or damaged, it can cause discomfort, increased sensitivity, numbness, muscle weakness, and pain.
Damaged Nerve Roots
Nerve root pain is often caused by other underlying conditions that have caused compression or damage to the nerve root. Causes of nerve root pain can include:
Spinal nerves impacted by injuries or infection can lose their ability to control the body areas, lose their functional capacity, lose sensation, and die.
Spinal Imaging
Nerve damage can be diagnosed on a neurological exam and correlated with MRI and X-ray imaging. Conditions that MRI can identify include herniated discs, spinal cord compression or fracture, arthritic development, tumors, or cysts pressing on a nerve.
MRI images are obtained with a magnetic field and radio waves.
MRI shows spine images from the side/sagittal view and cross-sectional/axial views.
This allows the chiropractic doctor to see the vertebrae and discs and identify abnormalities.
The spinal cord is a gray area in the middle surrounded by the spinal fluid, which appears white.
Little white channels on either side of the spinal cord are where the nerve roots branch off.
X-rays can show the alignment of the bones along the spine and determine any narrowing or damage to the discs.
It is important to be evaluated and diagnosed for signs and symptoms of nerve injury as soon as possible, as nerve damage accelerates and worsens.
Function Restoration
Sometimes, the symptoms improve by themselves and do not require treatment. Nonetheless, physicians begin with conservative, non-surgical approaches to treat nerve root pain. Chiropractic and physical massage therapy involves specific movements, stretches, and exercises to keep the affected muscles and joints active,prevent stiffness and help restore function and feeling. Treatment can include:
Therapeutic massage
Manual adjustment/resistance treatment
Trigger point therapy
Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy
Decompression
Traction
Joint stretching
Electrical stimulation
Ultrasound
Specialized exercise
Activity modification
Anti-inflammatory diet
Nerve Chiropractor
References
Liu, Yan, and Huan Wang. “Peripheral nerve injury-induced changes in the spinal cord and strategies to counteract/enhance the changes to promote nerve regeneration.” Neural regeneration research vol. 15,2 (2020): 189-198. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.265540
Menorca, Ron M G, et al. “Nerve physiology: mechanisms of injury and recovery.” Hand clinics vol. 29,3 (2013): 317-30. doi:10.1016/j.hcl.2013.04.002
Shehab, Safa Al-Deen Saudi. “Fifth lumbar spinal nerve injury causes neurochemical changes in corresponding and adjacent spinal segments: a possible mechanism underlying neuropathic pain.” Journal of chemical neuroanatomy vol. 55 (2014): 38-50. doi:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2013.12.002
Stoll, G, and H W Müller. “Nerve injury, axonal degeneration, and neural regeneration: basic insights.” Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland) vol. 9,2 (1999): 313-25. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3639.1999.tb00229.x
Ye, Xuan, et al. “Nerve fascicle transfer using a part of the C-7 nerve for spinal accessory nerve injury.” Journal of neurosurgery. Spine vol. 28,5 (2018): 555-561. doi:10.3171/2017.8.SPINE17582
The body’s nerves are the communication system that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Some nerves transmit messages from the brain to muscles to make the body move, while others relay pain, pressure, or temperature signals. Tiny fibers bundled inside each nerve carry the messages with an outer layer/sheathing that insulates and protects the nerves. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that send signals from the spinal cord to the shoulders, arms, and hands. A brachial plexus nerve injury occurs when the nerves are over-stretched, compressed, torn, cut, or ripped from the spinal cord.
Brachial Plexus Nerve Injury
The injury involves the head or neck hitting or getting hit and shifting to one side while the shoulder is stretched/pulled in the opposite direction.
Minor brachial plexus injuries are commonly known as stingers or burners and are common in sports like football, wrestling, hockey, soccer, and basketball.
Severe brachial plexus injuries can cause arm paralysis and usually result from vehicle or motorcycle accidents.
Other conditions like inflammation or tumors can affect the brachial plexus.
Sometimes babies can sustain brachial plexus injuries during birth.
Pressure and stretching injuries do not physically sever the nerve but can disrupt communication.
Cutting injuries vary depending on the severity of the cut and because the nerves are in a protective canal that can also be fractured or broken. If the canal remains intact, the nerve fibers could grow back with time.
However, surgery is necessary to repair the damage if the canal is broken.
Signs and symptoms of a brachial plexus nerve injury can vary, depending on the severity and location of the injury. Usually, only one arm is affected.
Minor Injuries
Minor damage comes from over-stretching or mild compression.
An electric or burning sensation shoots down the arm.
Numbness and weakness in the arm.
Neck pain.
These symptoms usually last for a few seconds or minutes but can linger for days or longer.
Severe Injuries
More-severe symptoms result from injuries that impact, tear, or rupture the nerves.
The most severe injury occurs when the nerve root is torn from the spinal cord.
Symptoms include:
Intense pain.
Writhing neck pain.
Weakness or inability to use specific shoulder, arm, and/or hand muscles.
Complete lack of movement and feeling in the shoulder, arm, and/or hand.
Symptoms in both arms.
Complications
With time, most brachial plexus injuries in children and adults heal with minimal long-term damage. But some injuries can cause long-lasting problems that include:
Joint Stiffness
The joints can stiffen, making movement difficult.
Healthcare providers often recommend ongoing chiropractic and physical rehabilitation during recovery.
Atrophy
Nerves regrow slowly and can take some time to completely heal after the injury.
During that time, lack of use can cause the muscles to break down.
Chronic Pain
Nerve damage can cause pain signals to be constantly firing.
Numbness
It can occur in the arm or hand, increasing the risk of worsening the injury or causing new injuries.
Disability
Recovery from a severe brachial plexus injury depends on age, damage, location, and severity.
Even with surgery, individuals can experience long-term muscle weakness or paralysis.
Chiropractic Treatment and Rehabilitation
Treatment depends on the severity of the damage. Chiropractic can help realign, rehabilitate, stretch, and strengthen the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, and ligaments to expedite recovery. For less severe injuries:
Muscle strengthening and posture exercises help maintain motion.
Therapeutic massage will stimulate circulation and keep the muscles loose.
For severe injuries:
Surgery
Continued chiropractic and physical rehabilitation to maintain thorough circulation, range of motion, and relaxed muscles.
The Brachial Plexus
References
Brucker, J et al. “Brachial plexus birth injury.” The Journal of neuroscience nursing: Journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses vol. 23,6 (1991): 374-80. doi:10.1097/01376517-199112000-00006
Gutkowska, Olga, et al. “Brachial plexus injury after shoulder dislocation: a literature review.” Neurosurgical review vol. 43,2 (2020): 407-423. doi:10.1007/s10143-018-1001-x
Joyner, Benny, et al. “Brachial plexus injury.” Pediatrics in review vol. 27,6 (2006): 238-9. doi:10.1542/pir.27-6-238
Noland, Shelley S et al. “Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries.” The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons vol. 27,19 (2019): 705-716. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-18-00433
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Whiplash Nerve Injury
