Are you experiencing shooting pain running from your lower back down your legs? If so, then you are likely suffering from sciatic pain and require professional chiropractic treatment.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is the name for the pain associated with irritation of the sciatic nerve, which typically only affects one side of the body. Sciatica affects nearly 1-10 adults and is typically seen in people 25-45 years of age.
The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body running from your butt down to your toes. Sciatic pain can vary in both intensity and frequency. Suffers may experience dull or sharp pain, mild or extreme. Some may experience pain intermittently, frequently, or constantly.
Symptoms Of Sciatica
Sciatica can be a debilitating condition that affects day-to-day living. Typically, symptoms of sciatica may include:
- Tingling or burning or throbbing sensation running down your leg
- Numbness or difficulty moving your foot or leg
- Consistent pain on one side of your body
- Leg pain gets worse when you sit down
- Leg or lower back pain when you try to stand up
Common Causes Of Sciatica
Sciatica can develop from both physical and degenerative conditions. Some causes of sciatica include:
- Lumbar Herniated Disc – Compression of one or more spinal nerve roots causing disc bulge.
- Spinal Stenosis – Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back
- Pregnancy – Which can add strain on the lower back
- Spondylolisthesis – When one vertebra moves over another
- Nerve/disc damage due to awkward falls and slips
How Does Chiropractic Help Sciatica
Chiropractors are well trained and regularly treat sciatica. Your chiropractor will recommend treatment after an initial consultation to help determine the cause of the pain and a review of your medical history.
Some of the ways a chiropractor can fix sciatica include:
Adjustments
Spinal adjustments and manipulation are well-practiced treatments used to treat sciatica. Adjustments of the spine restore your spines misaligned vertebrae to their correct position. This is the most common treatment if your sciatica is caused by injuries like slipped discs. A spinal adjustment is a safe, painless, and drug-free option for treating sciatica.
Massage Therapy
Deep tissue massage may relieve pain by improving blood circulation, relaxing tight muscles, and releasing endorphins that function as natural painkillers. Your chiropractor has a special knowledge of the body and knows where to apply the right pressure to start the body’s natural healing process.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses a gentle heat that penetrates the skin and into the muscles. This treatment method improves circulation and reduces swelling and pain.
Acupuncture
For those that want a more gentle approach, acupuncture can provide instant relief by triggering pain points and releasing tension to reduce pain.
TENS
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a battery-powered unit with varying intensity settings that automatically stimulates and relaxes the nerves to reduce spasms and reduce pain.
Hot & Cold Therapy
Cold & heat can provide temporary and immediate relief of sciatic nerve pain. Cold therapy reduces inflammation while heat improves blood flow and relaxes muscles, which speeds up healing. You should consult your chiropractor who understands which treatment is best for you.
Healthy Habits
Chiropractors look at all aspects of your health and well-being. This includes advice on a range of general healthy habits to help prevent the occurrence of sciatica. Your chiropractor may give you advice on correcting posture, sitting, and eating habits, and give you home exercises you can use to strengthen your back muscles.
Though sciatic pain is very common, it doesn’t mean you should have to tolerate it. Proper diagnosis and treatment by a chiropractic professional will reduce pain and back to enjoying normal life.
If you or your loved ones are suffering from sciatica or seeking advice or treatment on any back-related pain, give us a call today. We’re here to help!