Nerve Pain Treatment
in Oxford
Sharp, shooting, burning, or electric pain that travels along a pathway — rather than staying in one spot — is a hallmark of nerve pain. At Northwood Chiropractic, Dr. Steve Hulme uses the precise Gonstead System to identify exactly where the nerve is being compressed or irritated, and correct it at its source.
Oxford Chiropractor
What Is Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain — also known as neuropathic pain — occurs when a nerve is compressed, irritated, or damaged, disrupting the signals it sends between the brain and the body. Unlike muscular pain, which tends to be dull and localised, nerve pain is characteristically sharp, shooting, burning, or electric in quality, and typically travels along the pathway the affected nerve supplies.
Nerve pain is not just uncomfortable — it is a signal from your body that something is interfering with normal nerve function. That interference can originate in the spine, where nerve roots exit the spinal column and are vulnerable to compression from misaligned vertebrae or herniated discs. It can also develop peripherally, where nerves become entrapped in muscles, tendons, or joints further along their pathway.
Identifying which nerve is involved and exactly where the interference is occurring is the critical first step — and the foundation of the Gonstead approach at Northwood Chiropractic Oxford.
Common Nerve Pain Symptoms
- Sharp, shooting, or stabbing pain along a specific pathway
- Burning or electric-shock sensations
- Numbness or loss of sensation in a limb or extremity
- Pins and needles — particularly in hands, arms, feet, or legs
- Weakness in the affected arm, leg, hand, or foot
- Pain that worsens with certain positions, movements, or at night
- Hypersensitivity — even light touch feeling painful or uncomfortable
- Symptoms that travel — from the neck into the arm, or from the back into the leg
Why the Spine Is Central
to Nerve Pain
Your nervous system has two parts: the central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord — the body's master control system) and the peripheral nervous system (all the nerves branching out from the spine to supply every muscle, organ, and area of skin in your body).
Every peripheral nerve exits the spine through a narrow opening between two vertebrae. When a spinal joint misaligns — even slightly — it can compress or irritate the nerve root at that level. The pain, numbness, or weakness you feel may be in your arm or leg, but the cause is in your spine.
This is why treating the area where the pain is felt rarely resolves nerve pain for long. The interference needs to be corrected at its source — in the spine — for symptoms to improve and stay improved.
Nerves exiting the neck supply the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Compression here causes pain, tingling, or weakness that travels from the neck into the arm — often diagnosed as a "trapped nerve in the neck".
Nerves from the mid back wrap around the ribcage and supply the chest and abdomen. Thoracic nerve compression can cause band-like chest or rib pain, sometimes mistaken for cardiac or digestive issues.
Nerves from the lower back form the sciatic nerve and supply the buttocks, legs, and feet. Compression at this level causes sciatica — pain, numbness, or weakness running from the lower back down into the leg.
After leaving the spine, nerves can also become trapped in tight muscles, tendons, or joints — such as the carpal tunnel in the wrist, or the piriformis muscle in the hip. Both the spinal and peripheral sites are assessed at Northwood.
What Causes Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain develops when there is interference along the nerve's pathway — from the spinal cord to its destination in the body. Through our detailed Gonstead assessment, we identify the most common causes:
Spinal Misalignment
When a vertebra moves out of its correct position, it can narrow the space through which a nerve exits the spine — creating compression, irritation, and the characteristic shooting or burning pain of nerve involvement. This is the most common spinal cause of nerve pain.
- Can develop gradually through poor posture or repetitive strain
- Often present without pain until the nerve becomes sufficiently compressed
- Identified precisely using Nervoscope, palpation, and X-ray analysis
- Responds well to specific Gonstead adjustments at the affected level
Disc Herniation
A herniated disc — where the gel-like material between two vertebrae bulges or ruptures — is one of the most common causes of nerve root compression. The disc presses directly on the adjacent nerve root, producing radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in the arm or leg it supplies.
- Most common in the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) spine
- Symptoms often worse with bending, sitting, or certain movements
- Digital X-rays help assess disc space and spinal alignment
- Gonstead care can relieve the nerve pressure without surgery in many cases
Peripheral Nerve Entrapment
After leaving the spine, nerves travel through muscles, tendons, and joints — any of which can become tight or restricted and compress the nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist), piriformis syndrome (hip), and thoracic outlet syndrome (shoulder) are common examples.
- Often co-exists with a spinal component that needs addressing simultaneously
- Causes localised symptoms in the hands, feet, or specific limb regions
- Assessment includes examination of both spinal and peripheral sites
- Frequently improves once both the spinal and peripheral causes are corrected
Spinal Degeneration & Stenosis
Over time, wear and tear on the spine can cause the vertebrae and surrounding joints to degenerate, narrowing the channels through which nerves travel. This is known as spinal stenosis, and it is a common cause of nerve pain — particularly in older adults.
- Develops gradually and is often overlooked until symptoms become significant
- Degeneration is frequently accelerated by long-standing spinal misalignment
- Cannot be reversed but can often be significantly relieved with precise care
- X-rays are particularly valuable for assessing degenerative changes
Chiropractic Treatment
for Nerve Pain
Effective treatment for nerve pain requires knowing precisely which nerve is involved, where the interference is occurring, and what is causing it. At Northwood Chiropractic Oxford, our five-step Gonstead assessment is specifically designed to answer all three questions — before a single adjustment is made.
The Nervoscope — a key instrument of the Gonstead System and visible in the image above — detects temperature differences on either side of the spine that indicate nerve irritation. This allows us to identify the exact spinal level involved with a precision that is unique to the Gonstead approach.
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1
Nerve Scan — Nervoscope
The Nervoscope detects heat differentials along the spine caused by nerve irritation and inflammation. This tells us exactly which level is affected — the starting point of every precise Gonstead correction.
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2
Neurological Assessment
Reflex, sensation, and muscle strength testing identifies which nerve root or peripheral nerve is compromised — and how significantly it is being affected — guiding the urgency and type of care required.
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3
Structural & Motion Analysis
We assess joint motion, posture, and spinal alignment by hand and by observation to identify where movement is restricted and where compensation patterns are developing.
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4
Digital X-Ray Analysis
Where clinically indicated, X-rays provide a precise view of disc space, joint alignment, and any degenerative changes — essential information for nerve pain cases that may involve structural compression.
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5
Results & Personalised Plan
On your second visit, we explain exactly what we found, which nerve is affected and why, and present a clear, specific care plan. You will leave with a complete understanding of your nerve pain — and a precise path to resolving it.
After seeing many different professionals over the years and dealing with ongoing issues for a long time, I had honestly reached a point where I'd almost given up. Dr Hulme took the time to listen and really understand what was going on. I'm now in a much stronger place physically and mentally — I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone suffering chronically with pain.
Nerve Pain & Chiropractic — FAQs
Can a Chiropractor help with nerve pain?
Yes — when nerve pain originates from the spine, Chiropractic care using the Gonstead System can be highly effective. By identifying and correcting the precise spinal level causing nerve compression or irritation, targeted adjustments relieve the pressure on the nerve and allow normal function to return. The key is an accurate diagnosis first — which is why our five-step assessment is so important before any treatment begins.
What does nerve pain feel like?
Nerve pain typically presents as sharp, shooting, burning, or electric-shock sensations — distinct from the dull, achy quality of muscular pain. It may also cause numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or weakness in the affected area. Crucially, nerve pain tends to travel along a pathway rather than staying localised — running down the arm, into the leg, around the ribcage, or into the fingers or toes — following the route of the nerve being compressed.
What is a trapped nerve and can Chiropractic help?
A trapped nerve (also called a pinched nerve) occurs when surrounding tissue — a disc, misaligned vertebra, muscle, or tendon — places excessive pressure on a nerve. In the spine, this typically happens when a vertebra moves out of correct alignment and compresses a nerve root as it exits the spinal column. Gonstead Chiropractic is specifically designed to identify and correct these spinal misalignments with precision, relieving the compression and allowing the nerve to recover.
How long does nerve pain last?
The duration of nerve pain depends on its cause, its severity, and how long it has been present. When the source of compression is identified and corrected early, nerve pain can resolve relatively quickly. When left unaddressed for months or years, nerves can become chronically irritated and take longer to settle — though significant improvement is still achievable. This is why early, precise assessment matters: the sooner the interference is removed, the faster and more completely the nerve can recover.
What is the difference between nerve pain and muscle pain?
Muscle pain is typically dull, achy, and localised to the affected muscle. Nerve pain is characterised by sharp, shooting, burning, or electric sensations that travel along a pathway — often into the arms, legs, hands, or feet. Numbness, tingling, and weakness are hallmarks of nerve involvement. If your pain travels rather than staying in one spot, or if you experience any numbness or weakness, nerve involvement should be assessed.
Can nerve pain be a sign of something serious?
Most nerve pain has a mechanical cause — a trapped nerve or compressed nerve root — and is not dangerous, though it can be severely limiting. However, some symptoms require urgent attention: sudden onset of bilateral leg weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or nerve pain following significant trauma should be assessed medically without delay. At Northwood Chiropractic, every patient undergoes a full neurological screen at their first visit, and we will refer immediately if anything concerning is identified.
Is nerve pain treatment with Chiropractic safe?
Chiropractic care for nerve pain is widely recognised as safe when delivered by a qualified, registered Chiropractor following a thorough assessment. Dr. Steve Hulme is registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and the United Chiropractic Association (UCA). Every patient at Northwood Chiropractic receives detailed neurological testing before any treatment begins — ensuring care is always appropriate, specific, and informed by a complete understanding of your condition.
Do I need a GP referral to see a Chiropractor for nerve pain?
No — Chiropractors are primary healthcare practitioners and you can book directly without a GP referral. In many cases, coming to us first results in a more specific diagnosis and a targeted care plan faster than waiting for a specialist referral through the NHS. If your assessment reveals anything that falls outside our scope of care, we will refer you to the right professional promptly and without hesitation.
