El Paso Functional Medicine
I hope you have enjoyed our blog posts on various health, nutritional and injury related topics. Please don't hesitate in calling us or myself if you have questions when the need to seek care arises. Call the office or myself. Office 915-850-0900 - Cell 915-540-8444 Great Regards. Dr. J

Paresthesia: EP Wellness and Functional Medicine Clinic

67

The nervous system communicates with the entire body and reacts to internal and external changes using electrical and chemical impulses to send and receive messages. Messages travel/synapse from one neuron to another using specialized chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Paresthesia refers to sensations of numbness, tingling, prickling, skin crawling, itching, or burning, usually in the arms, hands, legs, and/or feet, but can affect other areas of the body. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, decompression therapy, and functional medicine can relieve tissue and nerve compression, improve flexibility, range of motion, and mobility, and strengthen the muscles surrounding the affected nerve to maintain optimal health and prevent worsening or further injury.

Paresthesia: EP's Chiropractic Specialist Team

Paresthesia

The sensation comes on without warning and is usually painless and described as tingling or numbness. There are different causes of paresthesia, including:

  • Compressed or pinched nerve.
  • Nerve injury.
  • Nerve damage from diabetes.
  • High levels of vitamin D or other vitamins.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Infection.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Multiple sclerosis.
  • Stroke.
  • Tumor in the spinal cord or brain.

Some individuals have chronic or long-term paresthesia, which can be a sign of a more serious nerve injury or condition. Added physical stress can cause surrounding tissues to irritate or entangle the nerve leading to building pressure. This pressure causes paresthesia in the area interrupting circulation and function. A pinched nerve can happen anywhere in the body, like the neck, shoulder, wrist, back, and face.

  • A herniated disc in the lower spine can cause back pain and paresthesia in the leg or foot on the affected side.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome is a pinched nerve in the wrist that causes numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers.
  • Pinched nerve symptoms can be intermittent or constant.
  • Usually, a temporary sensation is caused when pressure is placed on the affected nerve.
  • Once that pressure is relieved, the discomfort goes away.

Individuals with an Increased Risk

Overuse Injury

  • Individuals with jobs or hobbies requiring repetitive motions are at a higher risk for nerve compression, paresthesia, or injury.
  • Anyone can get a pinched nerve, and most individuals will experience paresthesia at some point.

Prolonged Lying Down

Obesity

  • Extra weight places added pressure on nerves.

Diabetes

  • Diabetes can cause nerve and tissue damage.

Pregnancy

  • Weight and water gain can cause swelling and increase pressure on nerves.

Thyroid Disease

  • This puts individuals at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Rheumatoid arthritis

  • This causes inflammation, which can also compress nerves in the joints.

Diagnosis

To diagnose paresthesis, a doctor will look at the individual’s medical history and ask questions about the symptoms. They will perform a physical examination and, depending on the findings, may recommend tests that can include:

Nerve Conduction Study

  • This measures how fast nerve impulses travel in the muscles.

Electromyography – EMG

  • To look at the electrical activity of how nerves and muscles interact.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging – MRI

  • This looks at the different areas of the body in high definition.

Ultrasound

  • Used to produce images, this can be applied to the smaller areas to look for nerve compression or damage.

Chiropractic

Treatment options depend on the cause of the paresthesia. Body misalignments can cause nerve interference that can lead to health problems such as migraines, or can disrupt nerve communication and block proper circulation. Chiropractic care focuses on treating the nervous system and is a safe and effective method for treating nerve problems that cause discomfort and sensations. After a thorough examination of problem areas, massage, decompression, and chiropractic adjustments will:

  • Realign and restore proper nerve function.
  • Restore proper blood circulation.
  • Increase the function of the body’s systems.
  • Promote optimal levels of health and wellness.

The Science of Motion


References

Bova, Joseph, and Adam Sergent. “Chiropractic management of a 24-year-old woman with idiopathic, intermittent right-sided hemiparesthesia.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 13,4 (2014): 282-6. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2014.08.002

Christensen, Kim D, and Kirsten Buswell. “Chiropractic outcomes for managing radiculopathy in a hospital setting: a retrospective review of 162 patients.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 7,3 (2008): 115-25. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2008.05.001

Freihofer, H P Jr. “Parästhesien” [Paresthesia]. Schweizerische Monatsschrift fur Zahnheilkunde = Revue mensuelle suisse d’odonto-stomatologie vol. 89,2 (1979): 124-5.

Karne, Sampada Swapneel, and Nilima Sudhakar Bhalerao. “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Hypothyroidism.” Journal of Clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR vol. 10,2 (2016): OC36-8. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/16464.7316

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Paresthesia: EP Wellness and Functional Medicine Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care 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.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or 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 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, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card