Headaches & Nerve Pain
Numbness & Tingling
Altered sensation that always deserves proper evaluation rather than guesswork.
Also called: Paraesthesia, Pins and needles.
Numbness and tingling can come from the spine, from a nerve being compressed somewhere further along its path, or from causes that are medical rather than mechanical, such as circulation or metabolic conditions. Because the possible causes are broad, this symptom is never assumed to have one explanation.
What varies between people is the pattern: which fingers or toes are involved, whether it is constant or comes and goes, and whether it affects one side or both. Each of these details narrows down what is likely happening.
Why this matters
The pattern — which fingers, which part of the foot, one side or both, constant or intermittent — is one of the most informative parts of the history, often more useful than the intensity of the sensation itself.
Because altered sensation can affect grip, balance, or fine coordination, it can quietly change how someone manages daily tasks well before it is recognized as a pattern worth investigating.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Sensory testing across different areas of the skin helps map roughly where along the nervous system pathway the change is occurring, from the spinal cord out to the peripheral nerve.
Because altered sensation can also reflect conditions outside the nervous system entirely, this evaluation is about narrowing down where to look next, including when referral for medical testing is the appropriate step.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Numbness that is sudden, spreading, affects both sides, or comes with weakness or speech or vision changes needs immediate medical assessment.
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Headaches — Headaches have many drivers. Understanding which ones apply to you is the point of the evaluation.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome — Hand numbness and tingling associated with the median nerve at the wrist.
- Cervical Radiculopathy — Arm symptoms that follow a nerve root pattern from the neck.
- Cervicogenic Headache — Headache arising from structures in the neck.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.