Have you ever felt pain, numbness, tingling or “pins and needles” travelling from your neck into your arm, or from your lower back into your leg?
You may have wondered whether it will simply go away on its own.
Sometimes it does. But when symptoms travel away from the spine and into an arm or leg, it is worth paying attention. These symptoms can sometimes be related to irritation or pressure affecting a nerve, and getting the cause assessed early can help prevent the problem from becoming more persistent.
Why does pain or numbness travel down an arm or leg?
The nerves that supply your arms and legs originate around your spine.
If a nerve becomes irritated, compressed or inflamed, you may experience symptoms along the path of that nerve. Depending on where the problem is, you might notice:
- Pain travelling from your neck into your shoulder, arm or hand
- Tingling or pins and needles in the arm or fingers
- Numbness in part of the arm or hand
- Pain travelling from your lower back into your buttock or leg
- Tingling, numbness or burning in the leg or foot
- Weakness or a feeling that the arm or leg is not working normally
This is sometimes described as radiating or nerve-related pain.
It does not necessarily mean that you have a serious problem. However, persistent or worsening symptoms should not simply be ignored.
When should you come into the clinic?
Consider booking an assessment if your pain, numbness or tingling:
1. Keeps coming back
If the symptoms repeatedly travel down your arm or leg, even if they settle temporarily, it is worth finding out what may be causing them.
2. Is becoming more frequent or intense
If symptoms that were initially occasional are happening more often, lasting longer or becoming more painful, an assessment can help identify what is contributing to the problem.
3. Is affecting your normal activities
You shouldn’t have to change how you walk, sit, sleep, work, exercise or use your arm because of persistent nerve-related symptoms.
If symptoms are interfering with everyday activities, it is a good time to seek professional advice.
4. Is accompanied by numbness
Pain can be uncomfortable, but persistent numbness deserves particular attention.
If an area of your arm, hand, leg or foot feels less sensitive than normal, especially if the numbness is increasing or spreading, arrange an assessment.
5. Is accompanied by weakness
Difficulty gripping objects, lifting your arm, walking normally, climbing stairs, lifting your foot or controlling your leg can indicate that a nerve is being affected.
New or progressive weakness should be assessed promptly.
What if the symptoms started after lifting, exercising or an injury?
Pain travelling down an arm or leg can sometimes appear after lifting something heavy, exercising, sitting for long periods or following an injury.
It can be tempting to wait for it to disappear.
While some episodes do improve with time, an assessment can help determine whether the symptoms are coming from the muscles and joints, the spine, or irritation of a nerve.
The important question is not simply “How much pain am I in?”
It is also:
“Why is the pain, tingling or numbness travelling down my arm or leg?”
When should you seek urgent medical attention?
Most cases of radiating pain or numbness are not emergencies. However, seek urgent medical attention if you develop:
- Sudden or rapidly worsening weakness in an arm or leg
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness around the groin, inner thighs or buttocks
- Severe symptoms following a significant accident or injury
- Difficulty walking or maintaining your balance that is new or rapidly worsening
- Other sudden neurological symptoms, such as facial weakness, difficulty speaking or a sudden severe loss of coordination
These symptoms require prompt medical evaluation.
How can we help?
At Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Health Centre, we don’t simply treat the area where you feel pain.
We first want to understand what may be causing your symptoms.
Your assessment may include:
Understanding your symptoms
We discuss when the pain, numbness or tingling started, where it travels, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, previous injuries and other relevant symptoms.
Physical assessment
We assess your movement, strength, flexibility, posture and relevant neurological signs where appropriate.
Spine Scan
We also use our spine scanning technology to help assess areas of tension and imbalance around the muscles and nerves of the spine.
From your assessment, we can advise whether chiropractic care, physiotherapy, exercises, other management strategies or further medical investigation may be appropriate.
Don’t ignore symptoms that keep travelling
A little occasional tingling after sitting in one position may not be something to worry about.
But persistent or recurring pain, numbness, tingling or weakness travelling down your arm or leg is worth getting checked.
You don’t have to wait until the pain becomes severe before seeking help.
If these symptoms are affecting your movement, sleep, work, exercise or everyday life, book an assessment with our chiropractic or physiotherapy team so we can help you understand what’s going on and what your next step should be.
Move Better. Feel Better. Live Better.