Many people experience pain/numbness traveling from their neck down into the arm/hand. While it is important to determine the exact cause, this condition is often caused my dysfunction in the joints of the spine. Chiropractic care works by improving your spines function and motion, which relieves pressure on the nerves that cause this sensation.
It is important to evaluate the joints of the spine, the associated musculature, and the Neurocontrol of that area of the body. A chiropractor can provide manual therapy, rehabilitation education, and chiropractic adjustments to address these issues. Dysfucntions in the body are often multifaceted and require careful evaluation to determine which interventions are appropriate.
Below is an example of a typical patient who presents for chiropractic care and her experience following a course of care:
"A 40-year-old woman developed right finger paresthesia and neck pain. Results of electrodiagnostics were normal, but clinical examination revealed subtle findings of cervical radiculopathy. A subsequent magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large right posterolateral disk protrusion and spur impinging on the right hemicord with moderate to severe central canal and right neuroforaminal stenosis at C5-6 and C6-7. She was treated with HVLA manipulation to the cervical spine, as well as soft tissue techniques, traction, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and exercise.
Her clinical findings and symptoms resolved within 90 days of initiating care and did not return in 1 year. There were no untoward effects, including transient ones.
This case describes the clinical presentation and course of a patient with multilevel large herniated disks and associated radiculopathy who was treated with HVLA manipulation and other conservative approaches and appeared to have good outcomes."
- J Chiropr Med. 2008;7(1):17–23.
Chiropractic is conservative treatment that is gentle and effective. It is prudent to start with conservative treatments and progress to more invasive treatments if necessary.
Dr. David Satterfield, Chiropractor