What actually happens during my first visit?

Your initial consultation starts with detailed history-taking, followed by a thorough physical, neurological and orthopedic examination, your modesty is preserved throughout, and gowns are provided where necessary. If you have prior scans, X-rays, or specialist letters, bring them along; if further imaging is ever warranted, we can refer you locally. By the end of your visit, you'll leave with a clear explanation of what's going on and a considered plan forward. Treatment is usually provided on the initial consultation given the case is deemed within our scope of care.

How many sessions will I need before I notice a difference?

Every case is different, but as a general guide, most patients suffering from nerve pain notice a change in their symptoms within 6-10 visits. Once the nerve has been decompressed and the inflammation around the neural tissue is reduced, the body's own healing processes can start to work much more rapidly, which is often where patients notice the biggest shift. Longer-standing or chronic presentations understandably take more time, why nerve recovery takes time explains the biology behind this., as nerve damage typically can last for several months to, in some cases, years. We'll give you a specific timeframe once your assessment is complete.

How does chiropractic care help with nerve pain?

Nerve pain often stems from compression or irritation somewhere along the nerve's pathway, whether the irritation is to a joint, pressure, from a disc or tightened surrounding muscles. By identifying exactly where that irritation originates and combining manual therapy with functional rehabilitation and neural mobilisation, we aim to relieve pressure on the nerve and support its function returning to normal over time.

How is nerve pain actually diagnosed?

Diagnosis starts with a detailed history, followed by a hands-on neurological and orthopedic examination, testing reflexes, strength, sensation, and how your specific symptoms behave with movement and provocation. This is what actually localises where along the nerve's pathway the irritation is coming from. Imaging such as an MRI or ultrasound can be a useful part of the picture where it's clinically warranted, but it's used alongside the physical examination, not as a replacement for it, a scan on its own doesn't tell us how a nerve is actually functioning.

What kinds of nerve-related conditions do you see?

We see a wide range of nerve-related presentations, including sciatica, disc-related nerve pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital and Guyon's canal syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, piriformis syndrome, meralgia paraesthetica, Morton's neuroma, and other peripheral nerve entrapments, alongside general spinal and postural presentations that irritate nerves indirectly. Every case starts with an assessment to confirm what's actually going on before any treatment plan is built.

Is chiropractic care safe for nerve pain?

For most nerve-related musculoskeletal presentations, chiropractic care is generally considered a safe, conservative option. Treatment is adapted to your specific presentation, including low-force techniques where a nerve is highly irritated or sensitised, and we screen for red flags that would need onward referral rather than conservative care. As with any treatment, individual suitability depends on your specific history and presentation, which is exactly what your initial assessment is for.

Are there symptoms that mean I should see a doctor urgently, not book a chiropractic appointment?

Yes. Most nerve pain responds well to conservative care, but a small number of symptoms and history factors warrant prompt medical attention rather than a routine booking, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the saddle area (the inner thighs, groin, or around the genitals), which can indicate cauda equina syndrome; progressive or rapidly worsening weakness; symptoms affecting both legs at once; fever alongside new or worsening pain; a current or previous history of cancer; a history of inflammatory arthritis alongside neck pain or new neurological symptoms; or unexplained, significant weight loss. If any of these apply to you, please see a GP or present to an emergency department rather than booking with us. We screen for these red flags as part of every initial assessment.

Do I need a referral from my GP to book an appointment?

No, our doors are open to everybody. Chiropractors are primary contact practitioners registered with AHPRA, so you can book directly.

Can you still help if I have osteoporosis, or I'm recovering from surgery?

Yes, in both cases. For osteoporosis or generally fragile bone density, we modify our approach with gentler soft tissue techniques, low-force mobilisation, and decompression therapy. For post-surgical cases, spinal fusion or micro discectomies, for example, we treat more delicately, with your surgeon's timeframe and any complications shaping the pace of your rehabilitation.

Can I claim private health insurance on the day, and what will it cover?

Yes, bring your physical or digital private health insurance card and we can process your rebate on the spot. Coverage varies significantly between insurers and the level of cover you've selected, so it's worth checking your Product Disclosure Statement or calling your fund directly if you want an exact figure before you visit.

Back to Clinical InsightsResearch & Evidence

Can Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Nerve Symptoms?

Aret AboulianChiropractor

March 30, 2025•7 min read

Tingling, numbness, and burning don't always come from a compressed nerve, sometimes the driver is what's (or isn't) in your bloodstream. Here's what's worth knowing about vitamins and nerve health.

When the Cause Isn't Mechanical

Most of the nerve symptoms we assess in clinic stem from a mechanical source. But nerve pain symptoms driven by deficiency follow a different pattern., compression, irritation, or entrapment somewhere along a nerve's pathway. But certain vitamins and nutrients play a direct role in maintaining nerve structure, one of several non-mechanical causes of nerve pain worth considering. and function, and a deficiency in one of these can produce symptoms that feel remarkably similar to a compressed or irritated nerve, without any actual entrapment present at all.

This doesn't mean nutrition is behind most nerve pain, it isn't. But for presentations that are symmetrical, gradually progressive, how we screen for nutritional contributors includes this in the clinical history., or don't fit a typical mechanical pattern, a nutritional or systemic cause is worth genuinely considering rather than dismissing.

Vitamin B12: The Most Well-Known Link

Vitamin B12 plays a key role in maintaining the myelin sheath, the protective covering around nerve fibres that supports normal nerve signalling. A deficiency can lead to peripheral neuropathy, typically presenting as tingling or numbness starting in the feet and hands in a symmetrical pattern, sometimes alongside balance difficulties or a noticeably unsteady gait, and in more significant cases, changes in memory or cognition.

Certain groups are at higher risk, including older adults (who absorb B12 less efficiently), people following a vegan or vegetarian diet (B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products), those on long-term metformin or acid-reducing medications, people who've had bariatric surgery, and those with pernicious anaemia, an autoimmune condition affecting B12 absorption. Diagnosis is confirmed through bloodwork, and correcting a genuine deficiency is guided by your GP.

Thiamine, B6, and Folate, More Common Than People Assume

Thiamine (B1) deficiency can also cause peripheral neuropathy, historically associated with alcohol use disorder and severe malnutrition, but also seen with restrictive diets, prolonged vomiting, and following bariatric surgery. It's an under-recognised cause of nerve symptoms outside of these classic scenarios.

Vitamin B6 is a genuinely two-sided issue worth knowing about: both a deficiency and an excess can cause peripheral neuropathy. Because B6 features in many over-the-counter multivitamins and supplements, megadosing over a prolonged period is a real and documented cause of nerve symptoms, which is one reason we ask about supplement use as part of a thorough history. Folate deficiency can produce a similar neurological picture and often overlaps with, or is mistaken for, a B12 deficiency.

Other Nutrients Worth Knowing About

Copper deficiency is less commonly discussed but can produce a neurological picture that closely mimics B12 deficiency, and is sometimes seen after bariatric surgery or with excessive zinc intake, which interferes with copper absorption. Vitamin E deficiency is rarer still, generally linked to conditions that affect fat absorption, and can contribute to sensory disturbances and impaired coordination.

None of these are common causes of everyday nerve pain, but they're worth being aware of, particularly when a presentation is progressive, affects both sides of the body symmetrically, or doesn't have an obvious mechanical explanation.

Where This Fits Into a Nerve Pain Assessment

As part of a thorough history, we ask about diet, alcohol use, medications, surgical history, and any relevant gastrointestinal conditions, these are exactly the kinds of details that raise or lower suspicion for a nutritional contributor alongside any mechanical findings. When a presentation doesn't fit a typical compression-related pattern, referring back to your GP for bloodwork is a routine and appropriate part of a proper work-up, not an admission that something's been missed.

Correcting an identified deficiency is managed by your GP or a dietitian rather than something we prescribe or dose ourselves. Our role is recognising when a nutritional cause is worth ruling out and coordinating care accordingly, alongside addressing any coexisting mechanical component contributing to your symptoms.

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