When most people think of chiropractic care they think of the spine. What many do not realize is that chiropractic care extends well beyond the back and neck to address pain, dysfunction, and nerve-related symptoms throughout the arms, hands, legs, and feet. Extremity pain that originates in or is contributed to by the spine, pelvis, or peripheral joints responds well to chiropractic evaluation and treatment, and getting to the true source of the problem is what determines how effectively it can be resolved.
Dr. Jeff Brown has been evaluating and treating extremity pain in Greenville for over 40 years. His approach examines both the affected extremity and the spinal and joint structures that influence it to ensure that nothing contributing to your symptoms is missed.
What Is Extremity Pain?
Extremity pain refers to pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or dysfunction in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. It can be caused by a local problem in the affected limb, by nerve compression or irritation originating in the spine, or by a combination of both. Identifying which of these is driving your symptoms is the critical first step in choosing the right treatment approach.
Common Causes of Extremity Pain
Extremity pain can originate from a number of different sources. Common causes that respond well to chiropractic care include:
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Cervical nerve root compression producing arm, hand, or finger symptoms
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Lumbar nerve root compression producing leg, foot, or toe symptoms
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Sciatica and piriformis syndrome
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Carpal tunnel syndrome and other peripheral nerve entrapments
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Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joint dysfunction
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Repetitive strain injuries from occupational or athletic activity
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Auto accident injuries affecting the upper or lower extremities
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Arthritis in the peripheral joints
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Muscle strains and ligament sprains in the extremities
Upper Extremity Pain
Pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms and hands is one of the most common extremity complaints in chiropractic practice. The nerves that supply the arms and hands originate in the cervical spine, and compression or irritation of those nerve roots from a disc problem or spinal misalignment in the neck can produce symptoms that travel the full length of the arm into the fingers.
Common upper extremity conditions treated at Brown Chiropractic Center include shoulder pain, elbow pain including tennis and golfer's elbow, wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers.
Lower Extremity Pain
Lower extremity pain, numbness, and weakness frequently originates in the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joint. Sciatica is the most well known example, but lumbar nerve root compression can produce symptoms at any point along the leg from the hip to the foot depending on which nerve root is involved. Hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, and foot pain can all have a spinal component that local treatment alone will not address.
Common lower extremity conditions treated at Brown Chiropractic Center include hip and leg pain, sciatica, knee pain, ankle sprains, and foot and heel pain.
Extremity Adjustments
In addition to addressing the spinal sources of extremity pain, Dr. Brown performs extremity adjustments when the peripheral joints themselves are involved. Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints can all develop dysfunction and misalignment that responds to chiropractic adjustment just as spinal joints do.
Extremity adjusting is an important component of comprehensive chiropractic care that allows for a more complete treatment approach for patients whose problems extend beyond the spine.
How We Treat Extremity Pain
Treatment for extremity pain at Brown Chiropractic Center is based on a thorough examination of both the affected extremity and the spinal segments that influence it. Depending on your examination findings, care may include spinal chiropractic adjustments to address any cervical or lumbar nerve root compression contributing to your symptoms, extremity joint adjustments and mobilization at the affected peripheral joints, cold laser therapy to reduce inflammation and promote healing in the affected tissue, therapeutic ultrasound for deep tissue treatment, and high voltage galvanism for pain control and muscle relaxation.
When to Seek Care
Extremity pain that has been present for more than a few days, is getting worse rather than better, or is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness warrants professional evaluation. Dr. Brown will give you a clear and honest assessment of what is causing your symptoms and what chiropractic care can accomplish for your specific situation.
