Nerve Impingement
Nerve Impingement or Nerve Impingement Syndrome (NIS) or a Subluxation occurs when a misalignment of one or more of the joints in the spine places pressure on a nerve. Because nerves communicate from the brain through the spinal cord and nervous system, any pressure on the nerves can cause interference with the transmitted signal. This can cause pain and/or discomfort as well as many other symptoms.
Causes
There are a variety of reasons that NIS occurs including trauma due to an accident, poor posture or diet, lack of or incorrect exercise, repetitive motion injury from sports or work, or even stress.
Symptoms
NIS can cause a variety of symptoms, most common being:
- Headaches
- Disturbance in sleep
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Digestive problems
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of NIS is usually done with the assistance of X-ray images. However if an X-ray does not clearly show any misalignment then and MRI can be used to confirm a diagnosis. Other diagnostic methods can be used if the patient is thought to have an infection or to determine if there are other underlying conditions that need to be addressed.
Treatment
Nerve Impingement Syndrome (NIS) or Subluxation has a variety of treatment options and is dependent on the severity as well as other underlying conditions. Most NIS patients can be treated conservatively with our expert team of pain management and physical therapy professionals. If other underlying conditions are found to be present, other treatment options may be necessary. Our experts at SCCNS can accurately diagnose your condition and discuss treatment options with you.