Arm and leg pain treatment

Available at Lake Forest, San Diego, and Spring Valley

Pain, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg can start in the joint itself or come from an irritated nerve in the neck or low back. Chiropractic care may help by finding where the problem starts, then using gentle adjustments, soft tissue work, stretching and strengthening to ease it.

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When to seek urgent care

Arm or leg symptoms can sometimes signal an emergency. Call 911 if you have:

  • Pain down the left arm with chest pain, pressure or shortness of breath
  • Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or trouble speaking
  • A leg that is suddenly swollen, red and painful

Get emergency care straight away.

Why arms and legs hurt

Most of us do not realize how much we use our arms and legs through the day. The shoulder and hip joints are among the most mobile and most used in the body, and that mix of mobility and constant use means there are many possible injuries and sources of pain.

Our chiropractors help people understand where their arm or leg pain is coming from and how the spine, nerves and joints work together. Your first visit is about listening, a careful evaluation and explaining what your symptoms mean.

How arm and leg pain is diagnosed

Because the joints are complex and the possible causes are many, it is important to see someone trained to sort them out. We take a detailed, thorough approach to find what is causing your pain and the best way to treat it.

That means a careful history and a physical exam of your movement, posture, joints and nerve function, with X-rays or other imaging when clinically appropriate. Where the pain is, what makes it better or worse, what it feels like, and signs such as swelling, skin changes or bruising all help point to the cause.

When the problem starts in the spine

Many nerves travel from the spine all the way to the fingertips and toes, which surprises a lot of people. When joints in the neck or low back are not moving well, the tissues around them, including the nerves, can become irritated, and that can cause pain anywhere along the arm or leg.

This is called referred pain. If the space where a nerve leaves the spine narrows, the nerve can become irritated and produce pain along its whole path. Sciatica is a good example. When your exam points to the spine, care focuses there as well as on the painful area.

When you know what caused it

Sometimes people know exactly what caused their pain: a weekend athlete who overdid it, someone in a car accident, a person who lifted too much at work or home, or a grandparent who fell asleep holding a grandchild in one position all night. These situations usually cause pain quite quickly from strain or irritation of muscles, joints or nerves.

Many people develop arm or leg pain gradually without knowing why. Then joint restrictions, arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis and frozen shoulder become likely suspects. Some pain is referred from other organs, such as pain down the left arm during a heart attack or pain under the right shoulder blade from an inflamed gallbladder, which is why a careful history matters and why we refer you to a medical doctor when your symptoms suggest it.

How we treat arm and leg pain

Depending on your findings, care may include gentle adjustments of the spine and of the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees or ankles, soft tissue work, stretching and massage, with strengthening exercises to support recovery. Your progress is checked through care so your plan can change as your symptoms do.

Care that may be part of your plan

Your chiropractor recommends care after your exam. Some therapies are offered only at certain offices.

From the blog

Book a visit for arm and leg pain

Arm and leg pain is treated at all 3 Greenlight offices.

Your questions,
answered

About arm and leg pain care at Greenlight.

Can neck or back problems cause arm or leg pain?

Yes. Nerves run from the spine to the hands and feet, so irritation in the neck can cause arm symptoms and irritation in the low back can cause leg symptoms such as sciatica.

Do I need imaging?

Not always. X-rays or other imaging are recommended when clinically appropriate, based on your history and exam.

What does care involve?

Gentle adjustments, soft tissue work, stretching, massage and strengthening exercises, chosen for the cause your exam finds.

When is arm or leg pain an emergency?

Left arm pain with chest pain or shortness of breath, sudden one-sided weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, or a suddenly swollen, red, painful leg needs emergency care. Call 911.

Will insurance cover my visits?

Coverage varies by plan. All three offices accept Medicare, VA and most major insurance plans. We do not accept Medi-Cal.