Musculoskeletal pain symptoms (pain related to the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage) are unpleasant and distracting. They can vary in severity, ranging from a mild annoyance to a five-alarm fire that requires immediate treatment. One of the most common types of musculoskeletal pain is that of a pinched nerve.
What Causes a Pinched Nerve?
First, one must answer, “What is a pinched nerve?” A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissues, including muscles, bones, cartilage, or tendons, compress a nerve. When nerves become compressed by surrounding tissue, they become “pinched,” leading to a range of problems.
As for what causes a pinched nerve, the Mayo Clinic described the source of the malady as follows:[1]
- “A pinched nerve can occur in many areas of the body. For example, a herniated disk in the lower spine may put pressure on a nerve root. This may cause pain that radiates down the back of the leg. A pinched nerve in the wrist can lead to pain and numbness in the hand and fingers, known as carpal tunnel syndrome.”
In simple terms, when an area of the body experiences inflammation or an injury of some kind, it can lead to swelling, which in turn can cause pressure on nerve pathways, resulting in a pinched nerve.
Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve
What are the symptoms of a pinched nerve? They can vary from one patient to the next. The most common symptoms are:
- Numbness or less feeling in the area supplied by the nerve. For example, a pinched nerve in the lower spine could lead to numbness in one of the legs or feet.
- Sharp, aching, burning pain in the affected area. Nerve pain is quite unlike any other type of pain most people experience. It is a distinct, sharp, shooting pain that seems to pulse or radiate through the body. It has been described as similar to an electric shock.
- Tingling, pins and needles feeling. Less serious pinched nerves can produce a tingling or “pins and needles” feeling, wherein it only hurts or causes sharp, shooting pain when one shifts their body or moves a certain limb in a specific way.
- Muscle weakness and loss of strength in the affected area. One of the effects of a pinched nerve is a loss of neural communication to the area of the body served by that nerve. Thus, patients may experience a loss of strength or mobility in the affected area.
- Limbs feeling as though they’ve “fallen asleep.” One of the signs of a pinched nerve is when a part of the body seems to “fall asleep” or become unresponsive. This is a result of the pinched nerve being unable to communicate and send neural messages to the affected area.
Simple Ways to Relieve Pinched Nerve Pain
How do I relieve a pinched nerve? There are some home remedies one can utilize. Home remedies for pinched nerves are simple and involve attempting to release pressure on the nerve. When these remedies are ineffective, it is recommended to consult a chiropractor as soon as possible.
- Get plenty of sleep. The body heals itself during sleep, and pinched nerves are typically slow-healing injuries. Additionally, when resting, it’s also important not to overuse the affected area. Even if one isn’t able to get as much sleep as they want, simply resting and not putting undue strain on the affected area helps.
- Change posture throughout the day. Unlike other injuries that typically involve an acute, sudden, sharp, or extreme trauma to the affected area, pinched nerves are often the result of slow, ongoing, repetitive pressure to certain nerve areas. This can be caused by poor posture, so it can also be remedied by correct posture.
- Create an ergonomic workstation. For those who lead a primarily sedentary lifestyle or work at a desk for much of the day, an ergonomic workstation can help alleviate the pinched nerves that often result from repetitive computer work day after day.
- Stretch and practice yoga. Much like back pain and neck pain, pinched nerves often result from a lack of physical activity, not excessive activity. Spending just a few minutes every day stretching or practicing yoga can make a big difference in reducing pinched nerve symptoms.
- Elevate the legs. Pinched nerves can sometimes be relieved by changing the position of the legs, usually by elevating them. This also has the added benefit of increased blood flow to the affected area.
- Apply ice and heat. Applying ice and heat to the affected area in a rotational pattern may help reduce swelling and inflammation, which are often caused by pinched nerves. The combination of hot and cold can also increase blood circulation to the affected area, which may help relieve pain.
- Make a lifestyle change. Adding low-impact exercise, losing weight, stretching, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and taking sufficient B vitamins are all lifestyle changes that may help reduce one’s risk of experiencing pinched nerves.
What can a Chiropractor do to Relieve a Pinched Nerve?
When do I see a chiropractor for a pinched nerve? Pinched nerves typically involve moderate to severe pain, and they tend to be chronic, so if pain symptoms aren’t reduced via home remedies and other self-applied treatments, one should see a chiropractor as soon as possible.
For those seeking comfortable, holistic relief from pinched nerves in Nashville, Franklin, or Middle Tennessee, Cool Springs Chiropractic is the premier chiropractic care provider for pinched nerves in Tennessee.
What makes Cool Springs Chiropractic the best for treating pinched nerves? Establishing a doctor-patient relationship built on trust and delivering effective chiropractic care in Tennessee is the cornerstone of Cool Springs Chiropractic. Only by utilizing a care-focused approach can the team and their patients develop a proper care plan and identify the chiropractic treatments necessary to reduce and ideally eliminate pinched nerve pain.
Further, Cool Springs Chiropractic doesn’t just focus on pain relief, although that is a core objective. Cool Springs Chiropractic focuses on remedying the pinched nerve itself, i.e., the physiological malady that’s causing the pain.
Pinched Nerve Relief in Nashville
Our top chiropractors in Franklin consistently deliver exemplary service and are recognized for their expertise, particularly in caring for patients with pinched nerve pain. Quoting Franklin’s award-winning chiropractor, Dr. Hinz:
- “At Cool Springs Chiropractic, our expert team provides tailored chiropractic care to address our patients’ unique health needs, including treatments for pinched nerves. No matter what the severity of the condition is, whether home remedies have been tried yet, or whether the patient has already been seen by a different chiropractor, we’re here to effectively diagnose the problem and to do everything we can to help pinched nerve patients experience relief. The result? Our patients leave our office feeling pain-free, healthier, happier, and more mobile.”
Schedule an appointment by calling (615) 503-9900 or using our online system to access our limited-time $49 New Patient Special. Our office is located at 3252 Aspen Grove Drive, Suite 13, in Franklin, Tennessee. For information or to ask a question, email us at info@coolspringschiropractic.com.
Sources:
[1] TMC. “Pinched Nerve.” The Mayo Clinic, 2025. mayoclinic.org
