Pinched Nerve
What is a Pinched Nerve?
“Pinched nerve” is actually a lay or common term and is not considered an accurate or scientific term for describing what happens. Nerves are rarely affected by a direct pinching process, but are more often compressed, irritated, tensioned, stretched, or experience interference. Nerves can be compressed or impinged by bone, tumors, disc bulges, or fibrotic (scar) tissue to name a few. Not only can pressure on a nerve result in malfunction of that nerve. This is why Gonstead chiropractors like to more accurately use the terms interference or irritation. A subluxationin the spine leads to abnormal motion of that joint. This motion can interfere with what are called spinal reflexes. Spinal reflexes are a way for the body to relay messages from the body to the spinal cord and vice versa. A fixed or stuck vertebra can cause these impulses to become scrambled.
Nerve interference whether from compression, or irritation, may or may not be painful. Only 8% of the billions of nerve fibers in our body are the sensory type which perceive pain (called nociceptors). We also have motor nerves controlling our movement and muscles; autonomic nerves which controls organs and visceral functions such as heartbeat and immune system; and also others types of sensory nerves which perceive touch (see also numbness), temperature, vibration and regulate balance. A disturbance in nerve function can lead to severe pain if it so happens that a nociceptor is the one irritated. Sciatica is a term used to describe pain in the sciatic nerve due to pinching in the lower back; Interference in other types of nerves can lead other types of problems.
Gonstead Chiropractic and Pinched Nerves
Those diagnosed with “pinched nerves” should see a Gonstead chiropractor. Gonstead doctors are experts at analyzing the spinal column for subluxation and through specific adjusting removing nerve irritation. Medication and epidural steroid injections have been shown to have only a temporary relief of symptoms while not removing the pinching of a nerve. In a British study of 741 patients with sciatica, those receiving spinal adjustments got better than those receiving medical treatment.
Our Office
About the Team
At Holistic Health Solutions, we believe that at the root of every symptom there lies a cause. We aim not only to bring rapid relief, but understand that only treatments that address the actual cause will have lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression. Our unique approach assesses biomechanics, lifestyle, genetics and laboratory testing to custom tailor a treatment plan for optimized recovery.
About The Team
At Holistic Health Solutions, we believe that at the root of every symptom there lies a cause. We aim not only to bring rapid relief, but understand that only treatments that address the actual cause will have lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression. Our unique approach assesses biomechanics, lifestyle, genetics and laboratory testing to custom tailor a treatment plan for optimized recovery.
Meet Dr. Matt French
Upon graduating from graduate school, Dr. Matt French headed west and began practice in 1998 in the valley. It was after sustaining a neck fracture in a diving accident at the age of 20 that he first developed an interest in health care as a profession. His own experiences with pain and recovery gives him true understanding as to what his patients endure. In his over 20 years of practice, Dr. French has seen many thousands of patients including doctors, surgeons, celebrities and professional athletes. As a sought out health consultant he has appeared on FOX 10, Good Morning Arizona, 12 News NBC, ABC15, CBS 5 and talk radio. Often described as “the man with the magic hands”, Dr. French has an uncanny ability to pinpoint and relieve pain.
He and wife, Megan, have 2 daughters. Both he and his wife are avid cyclists and have both been Arizona state champions. Dr. French has played drums professionally, and regularly plays for his church. He is also an Adjunct Professor teaching both Anatomy & Physiology and Kinesiology to pre-med students.
Meet Dr. Matt French
Upon graduating from graduate school, Dr. Matt French headed west and began practice in 1998 in the valley. It was after sustaining a neck fracture in a diving accident at the age of 20 that he first developed an interest in health care as a profession. His own experiences with pain and recovery gives him true understanding as to what his patients endure. In his over 20 years of practice, Dr. French has seen many thousands of patients including doctors, surgeons, celebrities and professional athletes. As a sought out health consultant he has appeared on FOX 10, Good Morning Arizona, 12 News NBC, ABC15, CBS 5 and talk radio. Often described as “the man with the magic hands”, Dr. French has an uncanny ability to pinpoint and relieve pain.
He and wife, Megan, have 2 daughters. Both he and his wife are avid cyclists and have both been Arizona state champions. Dr. French has played drums professionally, and regularly plays for his church. He is also an Adjunct Professor teaching both Anatomy & Physiology and Kinesiology to pre-med students.
