If you are struggling with foot pain then you might be surprised to find out that the cause of that pain is actually due to an issue in your spine! Scrapes, bruises, and even twisted ankles can all cause foot pain too. But what about when your foot pain is accompanied by a pins and needles sensation? Aggravation or damage to nerves in your spine can actually cause tingling, weakness, and numbness in other areas of the body. The nervous system runs through the spinal column, and damage to the spine can cause shooting nerve pain into your foot. Visit your Georgia chiropractic center to get your foot pain checked out and find out the root cause of your pain.
How Spinal Conditions Can Cause Foot Pain<
Nerves run along the spinal cord and nerve roots are the part that exits the spine. The lumbar spine refers to the spine in your lower back. When nerve roots near the lumbar spine are impacted by a spinal condition, it can lead to foot pain. The most common cause of painful tingling sensations in the foot is due to nerve compression. When a nerve that typically sends signals from your brain to your foot becomes compressed, it can send pain that radiates from your spine into your foot. You may also experience pain, tingling, weakness, and numbness in your leg, too. Here are 3 examples of spinal conditions that can cause foot pain and how chiropractic can help.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is a type of spinal cord injury that affects spinal discs and nearby nerve roots. Common causes of a herniated disc include sports injuries, car accident injuries, and other spinal injuries. When the spine is impacted by a fall or accident, the pressure on the spine can actually impact the placement and functioning of spinal discs. Each vertebra in the spine is separated by a spinal disc that helps to absorb shock and prevent the bones from rubbing against one another. If the disc is forced out of place, it can put too much pressure on nearby nerves and cause nerve pain. A herniated disc in the lumbar spine can cause shooting, stabbing pains through your leg and into your foot. Here are 5 ways to deal with a herniated disc and prevent yourself from pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease refers to wear and tear on the spinal discs as you age. A normal, healthy spinal disc is filled with a jelly-like substance that helps keep it spongy and able to effectively absorb shock from daily movements. These discs can slowly lose their elasticity and start to dry up over time. When this happens, the spinal discs can start to shrink which affects their typical functioning. As the spinal disc dries up and shrinks, it is unable to effectively support the vertebrae and can cause pain and discomfort. Nearby nerve roots can be affected and lead to pain in other areas of the body, like the feet.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a type of spinal condition where the spinal column starts to narrow. As the spine narrows, it leaves less room for vertebrae and spinal discs, compressing them and negatively impacting their functioning. When the spinal cord becomes too narrow, it can aggravate nearby spinal nerves and nerve roots. Spinal stenosis is common in the neck and lower back and typically occurs due to general wear and tear on the body that comes with age. When nerve roots are affected by spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine, it can cause pain, tingling, and numbness that affects lower extremities like the feet.
Chiropractic Care for Foot Pain
In order to identify the source of your foot pain, your chiropractor will want to perform a physical assessment. When nerve compression or nerve damage is suspected, they will want to inspect your spine and identify and possible misalignments with vertebrae and spinal discs. Diagnostic imaging tools like X-rays and CT scans can offer your doctor a clear picture of the affected area and help identify what nerves are being compressed. In order for you to experience lasting relief from foot pain, your chiropractor will want to resolve that is aggravating or compressing the nerves sending those pain signals.
If you are looking for relief from foot pain in Georgia, chiropractic care at AICA Orthopedics can help! We have 18 locations across metro Atlanta with highly knowledgeable and skilled teams of chiropractors, orthopedic doctors, neurologists, and more so you can get the comprehensive care you need for your foot pain.
