Pinched Nerve Treatment in Charleston, SC
Yes, a chiropractor can help with many pinched nerves. At Charleston Chiropractic Studio in West Ashley, Dr. Leo and Dr. Kasandra Ruettiger find where the nerve is being irritated, usually in the neck or upper back, with a hands-on Gonstead exam and on-site X-ray when you need it. Then they adjust only the segments that are involved, so the nerve has room to calm down.
Signs of a pinched nerve in your neck
A pinched nerve in the neck (doctors call it cervical radiculopathy) often hurts somewhere other than the neck. These are common reasons people from Charleston, Mt Pleasant, Summerville, James Island and Johns Island come in:
- Sharp or burning pain that runs from the neck into the shoulder blade, shoulder or arm
- Tingling, pins and needles or numbness in the arm, hand or fingers
- A weak grip, or dropping things more than usual
- Neck ache that gets worse when you look up, turn your head or look down at your phone
- Pain between the shoulder blades that will not let go
- Symptoms that flare at night or after a long day at a desk
What causes a pinched nerve
Nerves leave the spine through small openings between the vertebrae. When a joint in the neck stops moving well, a disc bulges, or the space narrows over time, the nerve root can get squeezed or irritated. The pain then travels along the path of that nerve, which is why a neck problem can show up as arm pain or tingling fingers.
Common triggers include forward head posture from screens, sleeping in an awkward position, lifting, and injuries like whiplash from a car accident, a fall or contact sports.
How we find the pinched nerve at our West Ashley office
Your first visit starts with questions: where you feel it, when it started, what makes it better or worse. Then we do a hands-on exam of your neck and upper back in the Gonstead tradition, checking each vertebra one at a time, along with posture, range of motion and simple nerve checks for strength and sensation.
We have digital X-ray right in the office. When your case calls for it, we take images and review them with you before care begins, so you can see what is going on.
What pinched nerve treatment looks like here
Both doctors practice Gonstead-style chiropractic: specific, hands-on adjustments to the exact segments found in your exam. Adjustments are gentle and controlled, and nothing is adjusted that the exam does not point to.
Depending on your exam, your plan may also include:
- Corrective exercises to support the neck and upper back
- Posture and ergonomic tips for your desk, phone, car seat and pillow
- Spinal corrective care when the problem has built up over years
Pinched nerves, neck pain and sciatica
A pinched nerve in the neck is close cousins with plain neck pain, and the same kind of nerve irritation in the low back is what people call sciatica. We check the whole spine, not just the spot that hurts. If your main problem is a stiff, sore neck without arm symptoms, or pain running down the leg, our neck pain and sciatica pages explain how we care for those.
Meet your Charleston pinched nerve doctors
Dr. Leo Ruettiger graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 2018. Dr. Kasandra Ruettiger earned her Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, Florida, graduating Cum Laude in 2015. Both practice Gonstead-style adjusting.
This husband-and-wife team has served Charleston since 2019 from 1941 Savage Road Suite 300-D in West Ashley.
Tired of the tingling?
Tell us where you feel it and what you have tried. We will look for where the nerve is pinched and build a plan for it.
Request an AppointmentQuestions families ask us
Can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve in the neck?
For many people, yes. Spinal manipulation is one of the non-drug options studied for neck problems, and the National Institutes of Health summarizes the research in its spinal manipulation overview. Your exam tells us whether chiropractic is a good fit for your nerve.
How do I know if it is a pinched nerve or just a stiff neck?
Pain, tingling or numbness that travels into the shoulder, arm or hand points to a nerve. A stiff, sore neck that stays in the neck is more often a joint and muscle problem, which our neck pain relief page covers. The AAOS explains cervical radiculopathy in more detail.
When is a pinched nerve an emergency?
Sudden or worsening weakness, trouble walking, loss of bladder or bowel control, or neck pain with fever are reasons to go to the ER, not a chiropractor. Every first visit here includes a check for warning signs, and if we find one we refer you to the right doctor. MedlinePlus has more on neck injuries and disorders.
Do you take X-rays for a pinched nerve?
When your case calls for it, yes. We have digital X-ray on site, so images are taken and reviewed with you during your visit.
Where is your office, and who do you see?
Our office is at 1941 Savage Road Suite 300-D in West Ashley, and we see patients from Charleston, Mt Pleasant, Summerville, James Island and Johns Island. Call (843) 852-4141 for current hours.
Find out where the nerve is pinched
Schedule your exam with Dr. Leo or Dr. Kasandra Ruettiger in West Ashley and get a plan built for your neck and arm.
(843) 852-4141Prefer email? Write to info@charlestonchirostudio.com.