An alternative approach for paresthesia
Are you experiencing numbness, tingling or a burning sensation radiating down one or both arms? Is this sensation accompanied by pain around the neck, shoulder blade, hand or fingers? Does moving your head and neck aggravate your symptoms? If so, you may be experiencing paresthesia.Paresthesia refers to a burning or prickling sensation that is usually felt in the hands, arms, legs or feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body. Most people have experienced temporary paresthesia – a feeling of “pins and needles” – when they have sat with legs crossed for too long or have fallen asleep with an arm crooked under their head. It happens when sustained pressure is placed on a nerve, and the feeling quickly goes away once the pressure is relieved. In contrast, chronic paresthesia is often a symptom of nerve injury. If you are suffering from ongoing symptoms, it may be time to seek help.
One of the more common causes of paresthesia is due to misalignment of the cervical (neck) vertebrae. Often, these vertebrae shift slightly out of position through physical trauma – such as blows to the head, whiplash, and/or concussion during motor vehicle accidents, athletics or falls. Even minor forces, such as sustained poor posture from long hours on the computer, can lead to cervical misalignment. When bones have been displaced, nerve transmission is compromised, leading to the telltale symptoms of paresthesia.
Fortunately, a rare chiropractic technique specializing in the alignment of the cervical spine – known as upper cervical chiropractic care – has shown promise for patients with paresthesia. In order to determine whether a patient may benefit from care, the cervical chiropractor will perform two diagnostic tests: thermal imaging and digital X-rays of the spine. If a cervical misalignment is diagnosed, the patient’s injured neck is corrected by administering a precise adjustment by hand on a specially-designed knee chest table. Most patients notice improvement in symptoms with just a few treatments.
With over 20 years of experience as a specialist in the upper cervical spine, Upper Cervical Chiropractor Dr. Erin Elster, D.C., has successfully treated hundreds of patients with symptoms of paresthesia. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Elster in Kahului at (808) 866-6551 or www.erinelster.com.