Neuropathy "The Painful Enigma"

A pinched, compressed, overly stretched, twisted, and entangled nerve can happen throughout the body. The most common locations are the neck, shoulder, upper back, upper chest, arm, elbow, hand, wrist, low back, legs, and feet. This disrupts the nerve's ability to function properly. Each nerve stimulates muscles and detects sensations in specific areas of the skin or internal organs so they work properly. Common symptoms are tingling, numbness, pain, weakness, and musculoskeletal problems. The average pinched nerve duration can last a few days to as long as 4 to 6 weeks or, in some cases, longer, in which case individuals should see a doctor or neurologist. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can relieve, release, and restore nerve health.

Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve is caused by pressure from surrounding tissues that place added stress on it. Muscles, bones, cartilage, and tendons can all press, pull, or entangle a nerve. This can result in a loss of function, which can then lead to symptoms including:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Muscle weakness
• Various types of pain - sharp, electrical, throbbing, aching, and radiating/spreading out to other areas.
• Burning sensation
• A pinched nerve can become serious, cause chronic pain conditions and lead to permanent nerve damage.
• More severe cases may require surgery.

Pinched Nerve Duration

Pinched nerve duration depends on the injury, which can happen suddenly or gradually. A temporary case with an acute cause, such as injury or poor posture, can last several days. Cases related to chronic conditions, like arthritis, may last longer. Treatment, as well as recovery, also vary based on the location of the injury and what’s causing the pressure.

Body Locations

Neck

A pinched nerve in the neck can cause tingling sensations and pain, which can travel to the shoulders and arms. This type can be caused by:

• Sleeping position
• Repetitive movements
• Injuries
• The pain will usually ease within several days unless a chronic health condition is the cause of the pinching.

Lower back

A pinched nerve in the lower back is often brought on by herniated discs that compress nerve roots.

• It may also be caused by arthritis or injuries.
• Individuals may feel a sharp pain in the lower back, as well as in the buttocks and back of the leg.
• Sciatica may be a symptom.
• Lower back pain may be acute, lasting only a few days.
• If the injury doesn’t resolve, it may cause chronic back pain that can last 12 weeks or more.

Leg

• The legs can develop pinched nerves from herniated discs or injuries.
• If left untreated can lead to peripheral neuropathy.
• This can develop over several weeks or years.

Hip

A pinched nerve in the hip can last a few days if related to an injury. If the pain lasts longer than a few days, consult a doctor. Possible causes of chronic hip pain may include:

• Obesity
• Bone spurs
• Arthritis

Shoulder

Shoulder pain brought on by a pinched nerve usually starts in the upper spine and is caused by:

• Injury
• Tendinitis
• Arthritis
• To tell if the pain symptoms are from a pinched nerve and not a muscle strain, the pain tends to occur in one shoulder, and there is a sharpness to the aches.
• Left untreated, arthritis or tendinitis can lead to chronic pain that can come and go for several weeks, months, or years.

Wrist

Repetitive overuse is commonly linked to pinched nerves in the wrist.

• Pinched nerves can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome - pain and numbness extending through the arm, hand, and fingers.
• Pain lasting over two months could indicate other underlying conditions, like arthritis.

Chiropractic Relief

Chiropractic adjustments identify the impacted nerve/s and use various therapies to remove the compression, relieving symptoms and the injury or issue. A personalized treatment plan can include the following:

• Different types of massage.
• Multiple adjustments.
• Non-surgical decompression therapy.
• Muscle Energy Technique - MET
• Targeted stretches and exercises.
• Posture training.
• Anti-inflammatory nutritional recommendations.

Sciatica During Pregnancy

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Cornwall, R, and T E Radomisli. “Nerve injury in traumatic dislocation of the hip.” Clinical orthopedics and related research, 377 (2000): 84-91. doi:10.1097/00003086-200008000-00012

Dmytriv, Mariya, et al. “PT or cervical collar for cervical radiculopathy?.” The Journal of family practice vol. 59,5 (2010): 269-72.

Hochman, Mary G, and Jeffrey L Zilberfarb. “Nerves in a pinch: imaging of nerve compression syndromes.” Radiologic clinics of North America vol. 42,1 (2004): 221-45. doi:10.1016/S0033-8389(03)00162-3

Lopez-Ben, Robert. “Imaging of nerve entrapment in the foot and ankle.” Foot and ankle clinics vol. 16,2 (2011): 213-24. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2011.04.001

Needham, C W. “Pinched nerves and signature signs.” Connecticut Medicine vol. 57,1 (1993): 3-7.

Siccoli, Alessandro, et al. “Tandem Disc Herniation of the Lumbar and Cervical Spine: Case Series and Review of the Epidemiological, Pathophysiological and Genetic Literature.” Cureus vol. 11,2 e4081. 16 Feb. 2019, doi:10.7759/cureus.4081

Introduction

Everyone has dealt with acute or chronic pain at some point in their lives. The body’s response tells many of us where the pain is located and can leave the body sore as the immune system begins to heal the affected area. When disorders like autoimmune diseases start to attack the body for no reason, then that is when chronic issues and disorders begin to overlap in risk profiles on other various problems that affect both the muscles and organs. Autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia can affect a person’s body; however, they could be associated with different issues affecting the body. Today’s article looks at fibromyalgia, how it affects the musculoskeletal system, and how chiropractic care helps manage fibromyalgia in the body. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal treatments to help those with fibromyalgia. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Have you experienced excruciating pain that is spread all over your body? Do you have trouble sleeping and feel exhausted every day? Do you experience brain fog or other cognitive disturbances? Many of these issues are signs and conditions of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is defined as a chronic condition that is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Symptoms like fatigue, cognitive disturbances, and multiple somatic symptoms often overlap and accompany this disorder. Around two to eight percent of the world population suffers from fibromyalgia, and it affects women more than men. Sadly though, fibromyalgia is a challenge to diagnose, and the pain can last several months to years. Some of the main symptoms that fibromyalgia does to the body include:

• Muscle and joint stiffness
• General sensitivity
• Insomnia
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Mood disorders

Fibromyalgia could also potentially be associated with specific diseases like diabetes, lupus, rheumatic diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

Aging Arthritis: How the body changes as the years go by is determined by an individual's diet, physical activity/exercise, genetics, stress levels, sleep patterns, and self-care. As the body ages, natural degeneration from everyday wear and tear will present. The focus is on understanding how age-related degeneration can affect the body and what to do to prevent and treat it.

Aging Arthritis

Arthritis refers to joint inflammation and is the fundamental cause of various disorders that include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Infectious arthritis
• Gout - metabolic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
• Childhood arthritis

Inflammation is just one symptom usually accompanied by swelling, pain, stiffness, immobility, and loss of function.

Osteoarthritis

• The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, where the cartilage within joints begins to break down, and the bones begin to reshape.
• It's known as degenerative joint disease/wear and tear arthritis.
• The hands, hips, and knees are the most commonly affected joints.
• These changes often develop slowly but worsen if not treated.
• Symptoms include intense pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Fibromyalgia

• Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in various areas of the body, sleep problems, and fatigue.
• Individuals with fibromyalgia can be more sensitive to pain sensations.
• Treatments and management plans are available to help ease symptoms and restor function.

Infectious Arthritis

• Infectious arthritis or septic arthritis is caused by an infection in the joints.
• Bacteria from another area of the body can invade a joint or the fluid surrounding it.
• Bacteria can enter the body from open wounds, injections, or surgery.
• Infectious arthritis is usually only present in one joint.
• Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that lives on healthy skin and is the cause of most infectious arthritis cases.
• A virus or fungus can also generate arthritic inflammatory symptoms.

Gout

• Gout is a common type of arthritis that causes inflammation and pain.
• It usually only affects one joint, most commonly the big toe joint.
• Symptoms can intensify, known as flares, and other periods with no symptoms, known as remission.
• Recurrent gout episodes can degenerate into gouty arthritis, a more serious form of arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks healthy cells, causing inflammation.
• Rheumatoid arthritis attacks numerous joints simultaneously, specifically in the hands, wrists, and knees.
• Rheumatoid arthritis causes the joint lining to become inflamed and starts to damage nearby tissues.
• Tissue damage that is severe or chronic enough can cause pain, balance problems, and visible deformities.
• Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect organs, like the lungs, heart, and eyes, by causing inflammation.

Lupus

• Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects various body systems.
• An autoimmune disease is when the immune system mistakes its tissues for bacterial, viral, or fungal intruders and attacks them.
• Lupus symptoms can be vague, making the disease hard to diagnose.
• The disease is known as the great imitator because symptoms can mimic other diseases.
• Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening.
• Seeing a rheumatologist is recommended, as they are specialists that can diagnose and treat arthritis, lupus, and other joint-related diseases.

Childhood Arthritis

• Arthritis in children is known as juvenile or childhood arthritis.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis/juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most frequent form.
• The condition can cause long-term joint damage that can lead to disability.

Aging Arthritis and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is recommended for the treatment of any form of arthritis. Chiropractic care can work with other therapies to reduce swelling and inflammation, alleviate pain, and improve mobility and flexibility.

• A chiropractor will utilize body imagery before beginning treatment.
• Imaging gives insight into the condition of the joints, and the visual, combined with a self-report from the individual, allows the chiropractor to create a personalized treatment plan.
• Once a chiropractor has identified which techniques the body can handle, treatment will commence that can include:
• Therapeutic massage
• Percussive massage
• Ultrasound
• Electrotherapy
• Low-level cold laser therapy
• Infrared heat

A chiropractor's objective is to rebalance, realign and strengthen the body, relieve pressure or stress at the junction of the joints, and expedite healing and rehabilitation.

LLT Laser Therapy

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Abyad, A, and J T Boyer. "Arthritis and aging." Current opinion in rheumatology vol. 4,2 (1992): 153-9. doi:10.1097/00002281-199204000-00004

Chalan, Paulina, et al. "Rheumatoid Arthritis, Immunosenescence and the Hallmarks of Aging." Current aging science vol. 8,2 (2015): 131-46. doi:10.2174/1874609808666150727110744

Goronzy, Jorg J et al. "Immune aging, and rheumatoid arthritis." Rheumatic diseases clinics of North America vol. 36,2 (2010): 297-310. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2010.03.001

Greene, M A, and R F Loeser. "Aging-related inflammation in osteoarthritis." Osteoarthritis and cartilage vol. 23,11 (2015): 1966-71. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2015.01.008

Sacitharan, Pradeep Kumar. "Ageing and Osteoarthritis." Sub-cellular biochemistry vol. 91 (2019): 123-159. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-3681-2_6

Fibromyalgia or FM is a condition that increases an individual's sensitivity to pain. It causes extensive body pain among other issues including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Numbness
• Poor sleep
• Bladder issues
• Bowel problems

Fibromyalgia includes multiple tender points at specific areas of the body and widespread musculoskeletal pain. Research suggests that the nervous system is the key factor in the pathology of fibromyalgia. This condition affects around four million adults in the United States and roughly two percent of the adult general population. Like most chronic disorders symptoms can extend far beyond the defining criteria. There are chances that a physical examination and tests appear normal.

About Fibromyalgia

The condition is a chronic syndrome that is associated with arthritis. The major statistics and facts about fibromyalgia include:

• Muscle tenderness is the primary syndrome
• There is widespread pain that is arthritis-related
• It can manifest as a primary or secondary condition
• It can present unrecognized symptoms that can be difficult to identify
• A high percentage of individuals suffer from sleep problems and fatigue
• It affects physical and mental health
• There are no specific tests to diagnose the condition

Causes

There are several theories or triggers that contribute to the progression of fibromyalgia. They are:

Peripheral Sensitization

Injury or trauma to the nervous system or musculoskeletal system can lead to peripheral sensitization of the sensory nervous system. This tends to be the case with arthritis and peripheral nerve damage. Peripheral sensitization leads to increased sensitivity to sensory nerve stimuli. This results in increased sensitivity to touch and heat and can potentially lead to primary allodynia.

Central Sensitization

Central sensitization refers to changes in the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. The condition amplifies pain. Individuals with fibromyalgia have a reduced threshold for pain. This is caused by amplified brain sensitivity to pain indicators with repeated nerve stimulation leading to changes in the brain.

Sleep Disturbance

Sleep disturbances have been associated with fibromyalgia. Studies show that sleep pattern disturbance could be a cause and not just a symptom of fibromyalgia. Poor sleep quality accounts for the majority between pain and fatigue. Major disturbances include:

• Shorter sleep time
• The beginning of sleep is delayed
• Waking right after sleep has begun starts to increase
• Sleep efficiency decreases
• Stirred/Waking out of sleep starts to increase
• Nighttime activity increases

Post-traumatic Stress

This could be a trigger of fibromyalgia. Patients are recommended to get examined for PTSD. Studies suggest that women suffering from chronic pain that is spread throughout the body and fibromyalgia have an increased risk for posttraumatic stress. Patients also show a reduced function of the HPA hormone. This is proof of an impaired transmitter system. An altered transmitter system in individuals with fibromyalgia interferes with the body’s stress regulators.

Hormones

Fibromyalgia is more common in women than men. Studies have found that many women find their symptoms improve during pregnancy. Individuals with fibromyalgia tend to yield less cortisol when responding to stress compared to individuals that do not have fibromyalgia. The condition is mirrored when the body is deficient in cortisol.

Changes in Muscle Metabolism

According to NCBI Resources, fibromyalgia is associated with altered skeletal muscles. Decreased blood flow and deconditioned muscles can lead to fatigue along with reduced endurance that can lead to fibromyalgia.

Genetics

There are some studies that suggest that pain can be influenced by environmental and genetic factors. The condition does not get passed down directly from the parents. But the ailment can present to a group of individuals within a family.

Chiropractic

Most reports suggest that fibromyalgia is a chronic condition. When it is related to trauma, the condition tends to be chronic and severe. Reduced pain and improved function can be achieved with the proper treatment. There are treatment options in place that can help individuals alleviate symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Body Composition

Calorie Restriction and Fasting

Calorie restriction and fasting are traditional ways of losing weight and fat. While calorie restriction is self-descriptive, intermittent fasting and alternate-day fasting involves going for long stretches of the day and night without eating, then getting all of the nutrition in a shorter time. Alternating day fasting alternates days of eating normally, and then not eating at all. Calorie restriction will help an individual lose weight and fat in most cases. It is more effective than intermittent fasting, and not as difficult to maintain. Alternate Fasting results in the same amount of weight loss as calorie restriction. What makes maintaining Alternate Fasting long-term difficult is being able to fight off the hunger on the fasting days.

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

References

American College of Rheumatology. Fibromyalgia. 2013. http://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Fibromyalgia/. Accessed December 5, 2014.

Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles M, et al. The American College of Rheumatology Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia and Measurement of Symptom Severity. Arthrit Care Res. 2010;62(5):600-610.