Arm & Leg Pains

Arm and leg pains are not always a problem in the arm or the leg. Motor and sensory functions of the arms are actually performed by nerves that come from the neck. And the motor and sensory functions of the legs are actually performed by nerves that come from the low back.

Do you wake at night with just your thumb and first finger "asleep", or a pain in your pinky and fourth finger only, but it goes away when you roll over. This is because the position that the neck was in was choking off the nerve root that controls that portion of the hand! The fact that it was able to choke of that nerve root is a good indicator that there is a problem in your neck. Your neck may feel fine at this time, but you are well on your way to permanent damage from a "subluxation". A subluxation is a slight malposition of one or two bones in the neck that causes added strain on the spine. (See the subluxation page on this website for more details) If left untreated these strains will eventually lead to disc degeneration and arthritic spurring.

The same is true for the legs. If just a portion of the legs, or half of the foot goes numb, the problem is not necessarily in the leg or the foot. It could be compression of one of the lumbar nerve roots due to a subluxation again.

If left untreated the nerves may be permanently damaged causing muscle wasting and sensory loss. The good news is that Chiropractors are the only physician "specifically" trained to treat a subluxation complex.

At Southern Spinal Rehab, LLC we believe that an educated patient is a happy patient. If you know of others that may benefit from this information please share it with them. If this appears to be what you or someone close to you suffers with please call and make an appointment at 850-475-HAAS (4227). The greatest compliment you can give to a physician is the referral of friends and family.