Freedom from Sciatica with Chiropractic
The freedom to move, be active, and maintain independence is crucial to your health and quality of life. For some individuals, pain makes movement a challenge. One commonly misunderstood condition that is commonly the culprit for back pain is sciatica.
You’ve probably heard about sciatica and may know it’s associated with back pain. Still, many people don’t understand what causes it or how it can be prevented. Our MCR Chiropractic team understands how to help patients with sciatic pain break free of pain to regain and maintain optimal health and well-being.
What is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve pathway is the largest spinal nerve in the body, running from the lower back down each leg. Compression or irritation of this nerve is known as sciatica, which causes shooting pain in the lower back, buttock, back of the thigh, and lower leg, even traveling as far as the foot. Many patients also report a feeling of weakness in the leg, and pain levels are often consistent regardless of position. Sitting, standing, and even lying down produce discomfort.
Sciatica is common in middle-aged adults, and its cause is commonly misunderstood. When we have sciatica, many people just assume the cause is a herniated disc. In reality, there are many more common causes of sciatica.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated due to inflammation, swelling, or being compressed. The causes can range from inflammation due to spinal subluxation or misalignment, muscular entrapment, and the less common but also significant herniated or bulged disc. Believe it or not, even pregnancy due to a baby’s position has been known to be a cause. Very rare, but also possible, a tumor or other conditions such as diabetes have been understood to be a cause.
Common symptoms of sciatica include:
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
- Hip pain
- Burning or tingling down the leg
- Weakness, numbness, or a hard time moving the leg or foot
- Constant pain on one side of the rear
- Shooting pain that makes it hard to stand up
How Do I Prevent Sciatica?
If you’ve dealt with a case of sciatica, you’re likely hoping to avoid another. Even if you’re lucky to never have experienced sciatica, preventing back problems should always be a priority.
One of the best ways to prevent sciatic nerve pain is to be aware of your posture. Poor posture is the most common problem causing back pain, and possibly sciatica. Also, use proper lifting techniques. Regardless of how much the object weighs, always lift with your back straight and your knees bent, holding it as close to your core as possible. Exercise will also help to strengthen your muscles and maintain good posture, and regular spinal adjustments from your chiropractor will help to keep your body aligned.
How Chiropractors Treat Sciatica
If your symptoms don’t subside after a few days of rest and stretching or if they worsen during this time, treatment by a chiropractor may be needed. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your chiropractor may recommend one or more of these treatments:
- Ice therapy to control pain and inflammation
- Spinal adjustments to realign your spine and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve
- Muscle treatments such as myofascial release or ART
- E-stim therapy to ease pain and other symptoms
- Cupping or dry needling to relieve muscle tension and myofascial restriction
- Specific stretches and exercises
Contact MCR Chiropractic Today!
If you’ve been diagnosed with sciatica or if you think you may have sciatica, our chiropractors can help you! Through a personalized approach to your health and wellness, you and your chiropractor will work together to help you regain and maintain optimal function.
Call your nearest MCR Chiropractic to schedule an appointment or complete the form below!
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