Pinched Nerve Pain Diagnosis and Treatment Options in Southeast Michigan

Christie O. of Grass Lake, MI can resume her favorite activities now that she's no longer experiencing pinched nerve pain

Christie O. – Grass Lake, MI
Actual Patient

Have you noticed an unexplained tingling sensation in your arm or leg? Have your first attempts at pinched nerve treatment, such as rest, medication, or chiropractic adjustment, failed to make the problem go away? If so, it’s time to see a pain specialist to get a diagnosis and find relief.

The location of your pain can help pinpoint exactly where to find your pinched nerve.

  • A pinched nerve issue in your neck can cause pain in your arm, chest, or shoulder.
  • If you feel back pain, or numbness in your legs or feet, your doctor will probably start by investigating lower back treatment options.

Nerves can become pinched, or compressed, by a variety of physical causes. It’s important to tell the pain specialist exactly what kinds of pain or other sensations you’re experiencing.

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Pinched Nerve Symptoms

The most common symptom of pinched nerve is numbness or tingling in your arms, hands, legs, or feet. Most people report that it feels as though their limbs have fallen asleep, but they haven’t done anything to feel that kind of sensation.

You may experience “pins and needles” during a range of activities, including walking, cooking, lifting, or typing. In some cases, nerves that may be pinched cause sudden stabbing pains or shooting pains. These pains may radiate from your back or neck and into your limbs.

The effects of a pinched nerve are often felt in a different location than the nerve. For example, a pain specialist might recommend nerve treatment in your neck if you experience sharp shoulder pain or shoulder numbness when you tilt or rotate your neck. The affected nerve is most likely in your neck, even though you feel the symptoms in your shoulder area.

You can get relief from shooting pains or numbness with pinched nerve treatment. You’ll be able to get back to your everyday activities when you don’t have to worry about sudden discomfort or not being able to move your fingers, arms or legs.

Causes of Pinched Nerves

Many issues can place pressure on the nerves or shift nerves out of place, resulting in pinched nerve pain. These include:

  • Muscle tension
  • Joint swelling or stiffness
  • Slipped or herniated disc
  • Bone spurs
  • Vertebral compression from osteoporosis
  • Issues with spinal joints, such as the facet joints breaking
  • Unusual movement
  • Lifting a heavy object without proper body position
  • Sleeping in an unnatural position

When a nerve is compressed or out of place, unusual pressure adds to the signals it normally processes. That can cause numbness, tingling, or sudden shooting pains. Muscles around the affected area can become tense and stiff. These are called “secondary symptoms.” They’re not directly caused by pinched nerve pain, but the right treatment can relieve these symptoms.

Our Pinched Nerve Treatment Options

Many people try medication, chiropractic care, heat, ice, or even bed rest for pinched nerve pain relief. Unfortunately, these treatments may provide temporary relief but don’t resolve the issues.

The interventional pain specialists in Ypsilanti, MI work to pinpoint the location where the nerve is being pinched to treat the pain at the source. The team starts by taking a full medical history and a thorough imaging study, like an MRI, to find the exact location of your pinched nerve. Then, they’ll put together a personalized plan for treatment that can provide multiple options to medication or major surgery. This plan may include:

Physical Therapy

Gentle exercises and targeted stretching with a physical therapist can ease a displaced nerve back into its proper place. Physical therapy can also help you get stronger, preventing the kinds of pressure or injuries that caused your pinched nerve in the first place.

Interventional Pain Treatment

Treatments like nerve blocks or joint fluid therapy can ease swelling and inflammation around pinched nerves to relieve the pressure and eliminate pain and numbness.

Micro Surgery

If your imaging scan reveals a bone spur, severe herniated disc, or other issues that can’t be treated with injections or physical therapy, your pain specialist may recommend a minimally invasive procedure to repair damaged tissue or vertebrae, or create more space for pinched nerves in the spine.

These micro surgeries offer the benefits of no hospital stay and short recovery time. Each of the board-certified pain experts at the Heilman Center have more than 20 years of experience diagnosing and treating pinched nerve pain. We take the time to listen to you, understand your unique pain, and create a personalized treatment plan that gives you options for increasing levels of relief.

The Heilman Center’s certified pain specialists have many years of experience diagnosing, studying, and treating pinched nerve pain. We take the time to listen to you, to understand your pain, and to create a personalized treatment plan.

Find Real Solutions for Pinched Nerve Pain

If you want some help getting relief from pinched nerves, our experienced pain specialists can help you find real solutions for relief that lasts. Call today to take the first steps to learn what’s putting pressure on your nerves and causing pain. 

Schedule your appointment at the Heilman Center for Pain and Spine Care now by calling 734-796-7555 or filling out the contact form on this page.