Numbness and tingling in the arms, hands, legs, or feet is one of the most telling symptoms a patient can have. Unlike pain, which can have many sources, numbness and tingling almost always points to nerve involvement. Something is compressing, irritating, or interfering with normal nerve function somewhere along the pathway from your spine to your extremities, and identifying exactly where and why is the first step toward resolving it.
Dr. Jeff Brown has been evaluating and treating numbness and tingling in Greenville for over 40 years. His thorough neurological and orthopedic examination process is designed to locate the precise source of the nerve interference before any treatment begins.
What Causes Numbness and Tingling?
Numbness and tingling can originate at multiple points along the nerve pathway from the spinal cord to the fingertips or toes.
Common causes that respond well to chiropractic care include:
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Cervical disc herniation compressing nerve roots that supply the arms and hands
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Lumbar disc herniation compressing nerve roots that supply the legs and feet
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Spinal misalignment placing pressure on exiting nerve roots
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Spinal stenosis narrowing the space available for the nerve
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Carpal tunnel syndrome compressing the median nerve at the wrist
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Sciatica and lumbar nerve root compression
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Pinched nerves from soft tissue inflammation or muscle compression
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Auto accident injuries causing spinal trauma and nerve compression
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Peripheral nerve entrapments in the elbow, wrist, or other joints
Common Symptoms
Numbness and tingling present differently depending on which nerve is affected and where the compression is occurring.
Common symptoms include:
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Numbness or reduced sensation in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes
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A prickling or pins and needles sensation
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Burning or hot and cold sensations in the extremities
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Muscle weakness in the affected arm or leg
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Sharp or shooting pain that radiates from the spine into a limb
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The feeling that a hand or foot has fallen asleep
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Increased sensitivity to temperature in the affected area
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Symptoms that worsen at night or with sustained postures
Numbness and Tingling After a Car Accident
Auto accident injuries are one of the most common causes of numbness and tingling in the arms and hands. The trauma a collision inflicts on the cervical and lumbar spine can compress nerve roots at multiple levels simultaneously, and symptoms do not always appear immediately. Many patients feel relatively fine after an accident and develop numbness and tingling in the days that follow as inflammation progresses and spinal misalignment puts increasing pressure on the affected nerves.
If you are experiencing numbness or tingling following a car accident, this is a sign of nerve involvement that should be evaluated promptly. Early treatment produces better outcomes and thorough documentation from the start protects your personal injury claim. Dr. Brown works directly with personal injury cases and can provide the documentation your claim requires.
The Cervical Spine Connection
A significant portion of patients who experience numbness and tingling in the arms and hands have a cervical spine component driving their symptoms. The nerves that supply sensation and motor function to the arms and hands originate in the lower cervical spine. When those nerve roots are compressed by a disc herniation, spinal misalignment, or arthritic changes in the neck, the resulting symptoms can travel the full length of the arm into the fingers.
This is why a thorough examination of the cervical spine is essential for any patient presenting with upper extremity numbness and tingling, regardless of whether they have neck pain as well. Treating the wrist or elbow when the problem is actually in the neck produces incomplete results.
How We Diagnose Numbness and Tingling
Dr. Brown performs a comprehensive neurological and orthopedic examination for every patient presenting with numbness and tingling. This includes assessment of reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength at each level of the spine and in the affected extremities to identify where the nerve compression is occurring and how significant it is. Digital x-rays are taken when indicated to identify structural changes contributing to the compression. The examination findings drive the treatment plan.
How We Treat Numbness and Tingling
Treatment is targeted directly at the source of the nerve compression rather than simply managing the symptoms. Depending on your examination findings, care may include cervical or lumbar chiropractic adjustments to correct spinal misalignment and relieve pressure on the affected nerve roots, Cox Flexion Distraction for disc-related nerve compression, cervical or lumbar traction to decompress the spine and create space for the affected nerves, cold laser therapy to reduce inflammation around the compressed nerve and promote healing, therapeutic ultrasound for deep tissue treatment, and high voltage galvanism for pain control and muscle relaxation.
When to Seek Care
Numbness and tingling that has been present for more than a few days, is getting worse rather than better, or is accompanied by muscle weakness warrants professional evaluation. Nerve tissue heals more slowly than muscle or ligament tissue, and the longer a nerve remains compressed the more difficult and prolonged recovery becomes. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe before getting evaluated.
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.
