Can chiropractic treat sciatica pain?
Back pain is never an easy injury to deal with, and when that back pain radiates to other areas of your body, it becomes even more challenging to manage.
What is Sciatica pain?
Sciatica is pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which then branches from your lower back through your hips, buttocks, then down to your legs. It typically only affects one side of the body.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is most commonly caused when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine compresses a part of the nerve. This injury causes pain, inflammation, and sometimes numbness in the affected leg.
Risk Factors to Sciatica
- Age – People between the ages of 30-50 years are more susceptible to sciatica.
- Weight – If you are overweight or pregnant, it may put extra pressure on your spine, which puts you at greater risk for a herniated disk.
- Occupational hazard – If your job requires you to do a lot of heavy lifting or prolonged sitting, you could be at greater risk.
- Diabetes – diabetes can cause nerve damage in your back.
Top common sciatica pain symptoms
People who suffer from sciatica pain describe the pain in different ways, depending on the cause. Some describe it as a sharp, shooting pain, while others describe a burning, shocking or stabbing sensation.
The pain may be constant or may periodically come and go. It may also be more severe in your leg compared to your lower back. Also, the pain may increase if you sit or stand for long periods of time.
Top common sciatica pain symptoms
- Numbness or weakness in lower back, buttocks, leg or feet
- Lower back moderate to severe pain
- Moderate to severe pain in buttocks, leg or feet
- The feeling of pins and needles in legs, toes or feet
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
How to prevent sciatica pain symptoms
Sciatica pain can become unbearable, but there are ways to manage the pain.
- Develop an exercise routine. In order to keep your back strong, pay keen attention to your core abdominal muscles and lower back, as these are essential for proper posture and alignment.
- Speaking of posture, maintaining proper posture when you sit and stand will also help to alleviate the symptoms.
What chiropractic can do for your sciatica pain
A chiropractor can relieve the pressure ff the sciatic nerve by applying spinal manipulations to allow the herniated disc to rest back into position. The adjustment may also help to restore the misaligned vertebral disc and allow for more mobility in the spine. In order to ease muscle spasms, the chiropractor may also use additional manipulations, which will provide further long-term relief.
H2: Why MSC Clinics has the best professionals for sciatica pain
Your health should be placed in the hands of trusted, trained professionals who have your best interest at heart. MSK chiropractors perform a thorough assessment to ensure you get the right treatment plan built specifically for you and your needs.
Book your appointment with us today to begin your path to recovery!