Do I Have a Pinched Nerve? – Discover Relief with Chiropractic Care at Dynamic Balance Chiropractic in Ajax, Ontario
If you’re experiencing sharp pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or abnormal function, you may be dealing with what many people call an irritated or pinched nerve. This is a phrase we hear almost every day, referring to a condition that affects thousands of people across Ajax and Durham Region every year. But the good news is, lasting relief is closer than you think.
At Dynamic Balance Chiropractic, we specialize in helping patients just like you find safe, effective, and drug-free relief from nerve irritation and related symptoms. This article will help you understand what an irritated or pinched nerve is, what to look out for, and how chiropractic care at our Ajax clinic may be able to restore your health and mobility.
What Do You Mean by “Pinched Nerve?”
This isn’t an anatomical term, or a full diagnosis, so what does it mean to have a pinched nerve?
What Are The Nerves?
The nervous system looks a lot like an upside down tree, with the base of the tree coming out of the bottom of the brain (an area actually named the brainstem). All of the communication between the brain and the body passes through the branches of the tree. Instead of hard, tough wood, the trunk and branches are made of remarkably delicate nerve tissue, that is very susceptible to physical irritation, compression and tension.
What Do They Do?
Nerves are the delicate tissues that make up your brain, and carry all of the information from your body to your brain, and your brain to your body. Over eleven million messages per second go into the brain. It processes that information, and sends out responses, controlling and coordinating the function of the 40 trillion cells of your body.
How Do Nerves Get Irritated or Pinched?
These delicate branches have a long journey through the many structures of the body on their way to their specific destination, including through special holes in bones, around the joints of the spine, arms and legs, and between muscles. Many challenges can arise on this journey, affecting how well the nerves can safely work, and how well the brain and body can communicate.
The action of the nerve (sending the signal) happens on the surface of the nerve, and they don’t have a protective shell or coating. It doesn’t take much added pressure or tension for the nerves to face difficulty or interference to their normal function. In common nomenclature, some people refer to this as a pinched nerve.
Our busy, modern lives offer endless ways to create the stress, tension and tweaks to joints that can affect how the nearby nerves work.
It’s a Dimmer, Not a Switch
A little bit of added pressure or tension on a nerve can change how it works, and the effectiveness of its communication. This causes a change in the message received at the other end. The signal can be turned down, like a dimmer, or even all the way off. Of course, this can change how your body works and feels.
Does it Always Hurt?
Because only ten percent of the nervous system deals with messages about pain, the other ninety percent is carrying messages that control the function (not the feel) of all of the organs and systems that make your body work. If there is irritation or pinching of these nerves, it may not necessarily hurt, but you may experience a variety of other symptoms.
Tension and fatigue are very common symptoms when nerves are irritated. Abnormal function in the body systems (digestive, immune, reproductive and respiratory, for example) can happen without proper nerve communication as well.
At Dynamic Balance Chiropractic in Ajax, we treat irritated and pinched nerves with a comprehensive, personalized approach that addresses the underlying cause of the symptoms.
Signs You May Have a Pinched Nerve
- Pain
Pain can be localized in one area, such as your neck or lower back. Sometimes, it can radiate into your shoulders and glutes, or even down your arms or legs. Pain is a distress signal from your body to your brain.
- Numbness or Tingling
A “pins and needles” feeling in your arms, legs, hands, or feet could indicate nerve compression further up the branches, such as in your neck or lower back.
- Muscle Weakness
A loss of strength, grip, or coordination could mean the nerve has been irritated or compressed long enough to affect muscle function. Over time the muscles can even atrophy (shrink).
- Things just aren’t working right
When the nerves controlling visceral functions of the body, a broad array of symptoms in many systems of the body can be affected. Those systems can’t work properly without normal nerve function.
- Fatigue and sleep challenges
When the communication between the body and the brain is affected, the body can’t work as efficiently or effectively. This takes a toll on the energy management in the body, and can leave you feeling drained. The added stress also affects our ability to shut down and sleep properly.
If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re not alone. Many of our patients in Ajax and the Durham Region come to us with similar concerns—and find real relief through our customized chiropractic care.
Common Causes of Pinched or Irritated Nerves
At Dynamic Balance Chiropractic, we routinely see irritated nerves caused by:
- Herniated, bulging, or degenerative discs
- Stuck, sprained or subluxated vertebrae in the neck and back
- Poor posture (working, breastfeeding, phones, video games, laptop)
- Repetitive movements (e.g., typing, lifting, working)
- Sports injuries or car accidents
- Inflammation due to arthritis or soft tissue damage
Our experienced chiropractors use detailed assessments and gentle techniques to identify exactly what’s causing the irritation to nerve function and how to correct it safely.
Why Choose Chiropractic Care for Pinched or Irritated Nerves?
Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, drug-free, and highly effective solution for pinched nerves. At Dynamic Balance Chiropractic, our focus is not just on temporary relief, but long-term correction and prevention.
Here’s how we help:
- Spinal Adjustments
We use precise spinal adjustments to improve alignment, reduce nerve pressure, and restore normal nerve function. This can significantly reduce pain and inflammation. We have several approaches and techniques, and tailor care to what is best for each individual.
- Posture Correction
Working life in Durham and the GTA often involves hours in front of screens or behind the wheel. Outside of work, the rush of a busy life can be just as stressful on the body. Our phone and computer habits, reading, cooking, feeding babies, and many hobbies take a massive postural toll as well. We help you correct posture issues and recommend ergonomics and exercises to prevent nerve irritation from returning.
- Soft Tissue Therapy
We some cases, we incorporate soft tissue techniques to release tension in surrounding muscles and reduce inflammation that may be irritating the nerve.
- Rehabilitation Exercises
We recommend exercises that will help you to strengthen supporting muscles, improve flexibility, and support your recovery long after you leave our clinic.
- Whole-Body Wellness Approach
Because your spine affects your entire nervous system, we take a holistic approach to care. We educate you on lifestyle changes, nutrition, movement habits, and stress management techniques to support your healing journey.
What to Expect at Dynamic Balance Chiropractic
When you visit our Ajax clinic for irritated or pinched nerve symptoms, your care starts with a thorough assessment:
- Health History & Symptom Review
- Physical and Neurological Examination
- Postural Assessment and Movement Analysis
- Customized Care Plan
We believe in transparency and patient education, so we take the time to explain your current situation and treatment options every step of the way.
Chiropractic vs. Other Treatments
You might be wondering how chiropractic compares to other approaches. While medications can offer short-term relief, they don’t address the root cause. Physical therapy is beneficial (and sometimes we co-manage care with physiotherapists), but chiropractic specifically targets spinal alignment and nerve function—making it uniquely effective for resolving nerve compression at the source.
Surgery is rarely necessary and is typically considered only after all conservative options like chiropractic have been completely exhausted.
Who Can Benefit From Chiropractic Care for Pinched Nerves?
Chiropractic care is safe and effective for people of all ages, including:
- Computer workers dealing with neck or back pain from poor posture
- Athletes recovering from sports-related issues
- Seniors with postural challenges
- Parents or caregivers experiencing strain from feeding, lifting and bending
- Labourers with repetitive strain injuries
- Teens and school kids with poor posture
Our welcoming clinic in Ajax’s thriving health and wellness community is conveniently located and offers flexible appointment times to suit your busy schedule.
Conveniently Located in Ajax, Ontario
Dynamic Balance Chiropractic proudly serves the Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Durham Region communities. Whether you’re dealing with a new injury or chronic symptoms, we’re here to help you move, feel, and live better.
