Why do my arms/hands go numb in Highlands Ranch CO?

One of the most common complaints I see in my Highlands Ranch office is numbness and/or tingling down the arms, into the wrists and hands. In some people it seems to be constant, while in others it comes and goes. Some patients only feel it while sleeping and others only during the day. In the medical profession we call it a “radiculopathy.” It can also happen down the legs and into the feel and is sometimes associated with sciatica as well.

What this numbness/tingling means is that you have pressure on the nerve that is going down the arm. The pressure usually occurs where the nerve exits the spine. We call this a spinal subluxation. This is where a couple vertebrae have become mis-aligned causing pressure on the nerve. This can be associated with pain in the neck as well or even tight muscles causing a decreased in neck flexibility. Often times, you will not feel any pain or tension where the nerve is actually pinched; your only symptom will be the numbness and tingling in the hand, wrist and fingers.

So how do we fix it? Through a palpatory examination, and xrays if severe enough, we can locate exactly which vertebrae are misaligned. From there, we will do a couple of very specific chiropractic adjustments and reposition the vertebrae into their correct places. The nerve will free up and start to function properly again and you will notice very quickly the numbess and tingling subside. We may have you ice and do some light stretching and/or physical therapy to make sure this problem does not come back. Often, we will also advise on workplace posture to help ensure your vertebrae stay in the position they are suppose to and no more pinching on the nerve to occur. If you are experiencing any type of numbness/tingling into your extremities, do not hesitate to call Dr. Caras at Premier Chiropractic of Highlands Ranch for a free consultation to see if chiropractic can help you.