Unlike the sudden “zing” and tingling sensation you get in your little finger when you crack your funny bone, if you have a pain, weakness, or numbness, tingling, pins and needles in your hand, this is a problem. It could be a problem in your neck, a disc problem or possibly a problem right in your wrist. And, if you have pain in your buttocks, hip, groin or down your leg that doesn't go away or it’s always there when you sit, stand or cough - This could be the result of a bulging disc or it may be due to a swollen sacro-iliac joint ligament.
These are serious problems that require treatment.
How does this happen and what does it all mean? How bad is the situation?
Pressure on a nerve is never a good thing, but how serious it is actually depends a lot on where the nerve pressure is coming from.
The problem with radiating pain is that different problems can cause the same symptoms. Sacro-iliac problems can masquerade as disc problems, and carpal tunnel problems can be from a problem in the wrist or in the neck. Proper treatment depends on knowing what you’re treating.
It takes some knowledge of the right questions to ask and the right tests to perform to tell what is causing the symptoms…You, obviously wouldn’t want to have low back disc surgery when the sciatica is caused by a sacro-iliac problem, and you also wouldn’t want to have your wrist operated on when your carpal tunnel problem is in your neck.
How do I find out what is causing my radiating pain?
When you go to your chiropractor or other doctor with the complaint of radiating pain in the leg or the hand you will be asked a series of questions and then tested to determine if your pain is due to a disc injury or other problem.
One pain-free, easy and inexpensive test that we perform is a Nerve Conduction Velocity Test. This is a very accurate test that shows exactly where the nerve pressure is coming from and following this test you will know whether or not your radiating pain is coming from a bulging disc or a simpler problem that requires a different treatment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing radiating arm, hand or leg pain you will benefit from this test and you will know for sure what is causing your pain. Then your doctor will be able to decide the best kind of care for that problem.
For more information please feel free to call us at 845-297-6688 or email us at dchealth99@aol.com