Arm & Leg Pain Treatment in Lubbock, TX

Arm and Leg Pain Treatment in Lubbock, TX

Pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the arms or legs is one of the most common — and most mismanaged — complaints in musculoskeletal healthcare. At Back 2 Health Chiropractic in Lubbock, TX, Dr. Brett Chavez, D.C. specializes in identifying and treating the spinal and peripheral causes of extremity pain, providing targeted care that addresses the source of the problem rather than simply treating the location of the symptoms.

Understanding Referred and Radicular Pain

One of the most important principles in musculoskeletal diagnosis is that pain in the arm or leg often originates in the spine. When a nerve root is compressed in the cervical or lumbar spine, the brain perceives the pain as coming from the extremity that nerve supplies — a phenomenon called radiculopathy.

• Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck) produces pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, forearm, or hand
• Lumbar radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the low back) produces pain that travels from the low back through the buttock and into the leg, calf, or foot — commonly called sciatica

This is why treating only the arm or leg where symptoms are felt — without addressing the spine — frequently leads to temporary relief at best. Dr. Chavez evaluates both the symptomatic extremity and the relevant spinal regions in every patient.

Causes of Arm Pain

Arm pain evaluated at Back 2 Health Chiropractic may be caused by:

• Cervical disc herniation — most commonly at C5-6 or C6-7, producing arm pain corresponding to the C6 or C7 dermatomal pattern
• Cervical facet referral — upper cervical joint dysfunction referring pain into the shoulder and upper arm
• Shoulder joint pathology — rotator cuff injuries, impingement, or frozen shoulder (see our shoulder page)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome — median nerve entrapment at the wrist causing hand and forearm pain
• Thoracic outlet syndrome — nerve and vascular compression between the collar bone and first rib
• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) — tendinopathy at the elbow from overuse

Causes of Leg Pain

Leg pain presenting at Back 2 Health Chiropractic may be caused by:

• Lumbar disc herniation — producing sciatica with pain radiating into the buttock and leg
• Piriformis syndrome — the sciatic nerve compressed by the piriformis muscle in the deep buttock
• Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal causing neurogenic claudication (leg pain with walking)
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction — referring pain into the buttock and proximal thigh
• Knee pathology — IT band syndrome, patellofemoral syndrome, meniscus issues
• Plantar fasciitis — heel and arch pain

How Dr. Chavez Diagnoses the Cause

A thorough neurological and orthopedic evaluation is the foundation of effective arm or leg pain treatment. Dr. Chavez uses:

• Dermatomal and myotomal testing — identifying the specific nerve root level involved based on the pattern of sensory and motor deficits
• Orthopedic provocation tests — reproducibly recreating and isolating symptoms to differentiate spinal from peripheral causes
• In-office X-rays — assessing spinal alignment, disc spaces, and foraminal openings
• Functional movement assessment — identifying biomechanical factors contributing to the condition

Treatment for Arm and Leg Pain

Treatment is precisely targeted to the identified cause. Options include:

• Chiropractic adjustments — restoring normal joint mechanics in the spine and/or extremity joints
• Spinal decompression — for disc herniation causing nerve root compression
• Dry needling — releasing myofascial trigger points that entrap peripheral nerves
• Massage therapy — soft tissue mobilization to reduce nerve entrapment and improve circulation
• Corrective exercises — strengthening the muscles that stabilize the involved joints and nerve pathways

Schedule Your Arm or Leg Pain Evaluation in Lubbock, TX

Arm and leg pain deserve a thorough evaluation — not a guess. Call Back 2 Health Chiropractic at (806) 425-5973 or request your appointment online today. Dr. Brett Chavez, D.C. will find the real cause of your pain and create a targeted plan to resolve it.