Can A Chiropractor Help With Sciatica?

CAN A CHIROPRACTOR HELP WITH SCIATICA? 

You may be surprised at the answer.

Back pain can interfere with your everyday activities, making it difficult for you to work or get a good night's sleep. When the pain spreads from your back to your hip and leg, it becomes considerably worse. That is often called lumbar radiculopathy but most know it as 'sciatica'.

Sciatica is an ailment that affects 1 in 10 adults in the United States and is common among ages 25 to 45.

You might wonder, "can a chiropractor help with sciatica?". The answer is YES. Absolutely! In fact, an evidence-based chiropractor, in most cases, should be your FIRST visit.

Doctors have been treating the symptoms, not the cause, of the condition with medication and invasive therapies, but chiropractic treatments effectively treat and can resolve Sciatica safely, non-invasively, and non-pharmaceutically.

What is Sciatica?

Symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travel along the sciatic nerve along the back and side of the leg (sometimes all of the way down to the big toe) are referred to as Sciatica. The sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the hip, buttocks, and legs, is the largest nerve in the body.

General back pain and Sciatica should not be confused. Sciatica doesn't only affect the back, it affects the lower back, buttocks, legs, and knee, and the pain can occur in these areas depending on where the irritation occurs. 

What are the causes of Sciatica?

Several underlying conditions that impact the sciatic nerve can result in a group of symptoms known as Sciatica. Herniated discs in the lumbar area of the spine are the most typical cause of Sciatica. The sciatic nerve can get compressed when a disc herniates or ruptures, resulting in lower back, buttocks, leg discomfort, numbness, and tingling. 

Other potential causes of Sciatica include:     

• Irritated Nerve Root: This can happen when a disc develops a tear in the outer ring. The tear, or injury, causes inflammation that makes the nerve in that area mad. That can cause serious pain into the sciatic nerve if the tear happens in the right area.
• Spinal Stenosis: This is a condition in which the spaces in the spine become narrowed, putting pressure on the nerves.      
• Spondylolisthesis: This is a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over another vertebra, compressing the sciatic nerve.       
• Piriformis syndrome: This is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located in the buttocks, becomes tight or spasms, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.      
• Pelvic fractures or tumors: These conditions can also cause Sciatica by pressing on the sciatic nerve. 

What are the symptoms of Sciatica?

Symptoms of Sciatica can vary in intensity and location, but common symptoms include:·     

• Pain in the lower back, buttocks, legs, and sometimes even the foot and big toe     
• Numbness or tingling in the lower back, buttocks, or legs     
• Weakness in the muscles of the legs     
• Difficulty moving the legs or feet     
• A burning or shooting pain that radiates from the lower back down the leg     
• Pain that is worse when sitting or standing for long periods 
• Pain that is aggravated by either bending forward at the waist or by bending backward at the waist. Typically bending forward will make the sciatica worse.

How chiropractic treatments help Sciatica

If you have gone through different heating packs and painkillers or want a drug-free, non-invasive way to treat sciatica pain, you need to see us immediately. Not only can we reduce the pain and improve your mobility, but we can also help reduce the risk of it happening again.

It is the best option for many people because it is non-invasive and drug-free. A chiropractor may suggest or employ several therapies. Understanding the possible underlying causes of Sciatica is an essential first step in figuring out how to help patients with the condition. This enables us to address the actual cause rather than simply the symptoms, resulting in long-term improvement and injury prevention. As a result, your sciatica therapy may not be the same as someone else's.  

Here are some common chiropractic treatments for Sciatica:·     

Spinal manipulation or adjustments: This involves applying gentle pressure to the spine to improve mobility and relieve muscle tension. Movement is healing and this is where it starts.  

Massage: Massage can help to relax the muscles and reduce inflammation, which can help to relieve sciatica pain. ·     

Neurodynamic Stretches: Specific stretching exercises can help to improve flexibility and move the nerve through it's channel, which can help to alleviate sciatica pain. It's incredibly effective.

Non-surgical Decompression: This is the MOST effective way to treat herniated discs and the resulting sciatica symptoms that we have. It's gentle and effective. Sometime instantlyy. 

Low Level Laser: This 'cold laser' is used in conjunction with non-surgical decompression to help the disc heal faster and to reduce inflammation. The inflammation that usually has the nerve root fired up and angry. 

Movement Bias Exercises: Many times, we can identify the patient's movement bias. Meaning the direction they can move that actually improves the symptoms. Then we can help them move more in that direction while avoiding the direction of harm. This treatment is incredible at helping almost immediately.

In conclusion, sciatica pain can be uncomfortable and immobilizing. In fact, we've seen grown men cry from the pain it can cause. However, it doesn't have to stay that way. Discs and sciatica can resolve and we can make it happen faster. Chiropractic care can relieve any shooting pain or discomfort you are experiencing. 

If we can help you, call us as soon as possible at 806-355-3000 and let's get you on our schedule. You're not stuck with it and we can help. 

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