Description

Numbness and tingling sensations in the arms, legs and joints is often accompanied by neck pain. While many attribute these sensations to "circulation," or poor sleeping position, they most often result from pinching or irritation of a spinal nerve.

The cause of numbness and tingling to the arms often originates in the neck. Perhaps the most common is restriction of movement of a spinal joint. This may cause direct friction to the nerve root as it exits the spine or secondary muscle tightness, which can also produce nerve friction. Factors such as degeneration or thinning of the spinal discs narrow the nerve openings in the spine and predispose to nerve irritation. Those with disc thinning or degeneration, however, respond to treatment well if normal joint movement can be restored with manipulation.

How Chiropractic Care Relates to Numbness and Tingling

Through careful history and examination, your chiropractor can help determine if the numbness is coming from your spine or from another source.

Spinal subluxations (misaligned spinal bones) interfere with your nervous systems ability to normally communicate with the tissues of your body—resulting in pain, abnormal function or in many cases, numbness of the extremities. By correcting the subluxation, your problems of numbness related to the spine and nervous system may be reduced or eliminated.