Pinpointing the exact cause of arm or leg pain can be tricky. If you’ve experienced a clear injury—such as straining a joint from repetitive movements, dislocating a shoulder during sports, or pinching a nerve from an awkward sleeping position—you might have a good idea of what’s causing your discomfort.

 

However, when pain develops gradually or lingers long after an injury, the root cause isn’t always obvious. Chronic arm and leg pain can stem from a variety of conditions, including bursitis, arthritis, and tendinitis. But in many cases, misalignments (subluxations) in the spine—particularly in the neck and lower back—are the hidden culprits. When vertebrae shift out of alignment, they can narrow the spaces where nerves exit the spine, leading to irritation that radiates along the entire length of the nerve, from the spine down to the fingertips and toes.

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​Many people are surprised to learn how interconnected the nervous system is throughout the body. Nerves extend from the spine to the arms and legs, meaning that even a small misalignment in the back can trigger pain in distant areas. A common example is sciatica, where irritation in the lower spine sends pain shooting from the hip down to the foot.