When a patient tells me that their hands tingle or their feet feel like it’s going numb, I know we’re dealing with one of the most underdiagnosed problems in healthcare: nerve pain. In fact one population study found that only about 2% of Americans have an official diagnosis of neuropathic pain, however the real number is closer to 16 million. That’s 1 in 20 adults walking around with a nervous system that isn’t working the way it should.
Your Denver chiropractor had seen it at his Wheat Ridge clinic and has built a reputation as the most trusted in the community for nerve pain treatment. And not because we do anything flashy. It’s because we take the time to understand where the pressure is coming from, and how to correct it naturally.
What Is Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain also called neuropathic pain happens when the nervous system itself is injured, irritated, or malfunctioning. This isn’t the kind of pain that comes from a pulled muscle or inflammation in a joint. Patients often describe it as a tingling or numbness sensation. Your body has three types of nerves:
- Sensory nerves, which carry signals like temperature, pain, and touch to your brain.
- Motor nerves, which control movement by sending signals from the brain to your muscles.
- Autonomic nerves, which regulate things you don’t think about like heart rate, digestion, and sweating.
Damaged nerves start producing too many sodium and calcium ions, which makes them fire off pain signals even without a physical trigger. This is what sets nerve pain apart from musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain.
Common Causes of Nerve Pain
There’s no single cause of nerve pain, but there are a few I see again and again at our Wheat Ridge CO clinic. These are some of the most common neurological issues behind the symptoms my patients describe every day.
Pinched Nerves
A pinched nerve happens when something, usually a disc, joint, or tight muscle, compresses a nearby nerve. This pressure disrupts normal nerve signaling and leads to pain, tingling, or numbness along the nerve’s path. It’s one of the most common structural issues I treat, especially in the neck and lower back.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed at the wrist. It’s often blamed on typing or repetitive strain, but in many cases, the real problem starts higher up at the shoulder, elbow, or even the cervical spine. If you’ve had wrist pain that isn’t improving, we always check the full kinetic chain.
Sciatica
Sciatica is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest and thickest nerve in the body. It often starts with a disc issue in the lower back that puts pressure on the L4–S1 nerve roots. The result is pain that shoots down the buttock, thigh, and leg—sometimes all the way to the foot.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia affects the fifth cranial nerve, which controls sensation in the face. Patients describe it as sharp, sudden, electric-like jolts that can be triggered by light touch or even speaking. While some cases are caused by vascular compression, others have spinal misalignments in the upper neck that alter brainstem function and nerve regulation.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the small nerves in the hands, feet, or limbs. It’s often linked to diabetes, chemotherapy and poor blood circulation. But here’s what most people don’t realize, if there’s also spinal or postural dysfunction, nerve recovery can also stall as sensory signals can get blocked.
How We Diagnose Nerve Pain at Wheat Ridge
Every patient goes through a detailed evaluation designed to figure out what’s irritating and causing your nervous system to go berserk. Here’s what that includes:
- Comprehensive patient history and analysis of your daily habits, or past injuries might be contributing to nerve stress.
- I perform targeted orthopedic and neurological exams to assess muscle strength, reflexes, coordination, and identify which exact area is misfiring.
- I use precise palpation, temperature checks, and motion studies to detect inflammation, nerve pressure, and subtle spinal shifts down to the millimeter.
How We Treat Nerve Pain at The Disc Chiropractic
Every treatment I recommend is measurable, and built to restore normal function at the structural level. Here are five that work best for neuropathic pain.
Chiropractic Adjustments
It starts with spinal alignment. If one vertebra is rotated or shifted out of position—even slightly—it can pinch or irritate a nearby nerve root. That pressure sends the wrong signals to your brain, and you feel pain, numbness, or weakness somewhere downstream.
Using the Gonstead Method of Chiropractic, I apply precise, directional adjustments to correct spinal misalignments. These aren’t random cracks or “general adjustments.” Every thrust is based on what we find in your X-rays, motion palpation, and nerve scans. Nothing is done unless it’s necessary—and corrective.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
When disc injuries are involved like a bulging or herniated disc pressing on a nerve (often the sciatic nerve) I may recommend spinal decompression. Using the Triton DTS system, we apply gentle, mechanical traction to create space between vertebrae, reduce disc pressure, and relieve nerve irritation..
Shockwave Therapy
Chronic nerve-related conditions often include scar tissue, poor blood flow, and long-term inflammation around the nerve itself. Shockwave therapy helps fix that. With the Intelect RPW 2, we send focused acoustic waves into damaged tissue to:
- Break down fibrotic adhesions & trigger points
- Stimulate local circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Encourage healing at the cellular level
- Reduce chemical pain signals in the tissue
Most patients see real, measurable results within 4–8 sessions
Soft Tissue Therapy
When nerves are trapped in tight muscles or fascia, they can’t glide or signal properly. That’s where the Rapid Release Pro 3 comes in. This precise high-frequency vibration tool targets soft tissue adhesions and restrictions around irritated nerves.
When we combine soft tissue therapy with adjustments, we often see faster and longer-lasting results.
Therapeutic Exercises & Posture Correction
Once nerve pressure starts to ease, we rebuild the weak links. That might mean strengthening stabilizer muscles, restoring joint mobility, or correcting your posture to keep pressure off the spine.
Depending on what we find in your evaluation, your plan may include:
- Nerve flossing and mobility drills
- Core and hip stabilization exercises
- Postural retraining to reduce spinal stress
- Movement pattern corrections for daily tasks
FAQs About Nerve Pain
What are the first signs of nerve pain?
Tingling, numbness, burning, or sharp, shooting pain especially if it follows a specific path like down the arm or leg. These are early signs that a nerve is being compressed or irritated.
How do I know if my pain is nerve-related?
If your symptoms are electrical, unpredictable, or seem to travel, that’s a strong indicator. We confirm it through a detailed exam, reflex testing, and motion-based spinal analysis.
What causes nerve pain to flare up?
Poor posture, inflammation, spinal misalignment, or even repetitive movement can trigger a flare. Stress and sleep changes can also heighten nerve sensitivity.
Can chiropractic help with pinched nerves or sciatica?
Yes—this is one of the core conditions we treat. By restoring spinal alignment and removing pressure on the nerve root, we can often relieve pain quickly and prevent it from coming back.
What makes Gonstead adjustments different for nerve issues?
Gonstead is more specific. We don’t adjust every joint—we find the one causing the problem and correct it based on MRI, palpation, and nerve scans. That’s why it works so well for nerve-related pain.
How long before I feel relief?
Many patients feel improvement within the first few visits, especially when decompression or soft tissue work is included. Full recovery depends on how long the nerve has been irritated and how severe the damage is.
Do I need imaging before starting care?
In most cases, yes. We take standing, motion-based X-rays so we can see how your spine functions under real-world conditions. It’s how we deliver precise, targeted care.
Will nerve pain go away on its own?
Sometimes it does—but if the pressure on the nerve isn’t removed, it usually gets worse. Early correction leads to faster, more permanent results.
Is treatment painful?
No. Adjustments and decompression are gentle and focused. Most patients feel immediate relief, not discomfort. If there’s tenderness, we modify the approach.
Reclaim Life Without Nerve Pain
I’ve spent years helping patients with structural nerve disorders—from sciatica to carpal tunnel. What we do here isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personalized, based on what we find in your spine, your movement, and your nervous system.
If you’re ready for answers—not assumptions—and want a plan that’s transparent, focused, and science-based, I’d be honored to help you take the next step.
Book your $97 First Visit today — includes a detailed consultation, full spinal and nerve evaluations, and a custom care recommendation. Call: 720-573-4910