“I was in a car accident and the Chiropractor told me I have a pinched nerve at C6 because I have some grip weakness in my hand of 20%.”

RE: A Pinched Nerve (Nerve Root Compression) from an Car Accident…

I would not think of a C6 nerve root compression with a 20% loss of  grip strength BUT an in person examination is always the best way to evaluate an individual.

He or she may have other exam findings that suggest the nerve problem.

It’s also possible that  you’ve had an MRI that demonstrates a disc injury and you may have even had some other neurodiagnostic tests that demonstrate a problem.

C6 root compression in often will cause some pain in the area of the biceps and down into the hand primarily in the thumb and index finger.  It’s variable though.

The doctor may have seen some changes in a reflex when tapping a muscle in the forearm that moves the arm.

C6 weakness is generally seen higher up the arm  than grip.

What a doctor would tend to see in a C6 mediated weakness would be elbow flexion (bending your elbow) weakness.

Other nerve compressions, commonly called pinched nerves, would have other findings.

Having said all that, it may be that your treatment is working and you’re getting better regardless of the exact location of problem.

Often with a major trauma, like in a significant car accident, many injuries occur… and often the injuries involve several different structures in the same area.

I hope you have a good recovery!

If you live in Texarkana and would like a second opinion for a problem with a musculoskeletal injury, a pinched nerve, or a disc problem, please feel free to call my office at 903-793-1084.