If you have ever experienced shooting pain from your lower back through your leg, you might have sciatica. Sciatica is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions or complaints people experience. The Harvard Health Publishing reports that about 40 percent of people will get sciatica at some point in their life.
The bad news is that your chances of experiencing Sciatica increase with age. The good news is that most cases of sciatica are treatable with time and corrective chiropractic care.
Sciatic nerve pain in the lower back through hip, thigh, knee to leg. Educational or informational poster. Flat vector medical illustration isolated on white background
What is sciatica?
Sciatica refers to the pain that originates from the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from your lower back, buttock and through the leg. When it gets irritated, it can produce acute or chronic pain. This pain may occur on one leg or both.
The most common cause of sciatica is a pinched nerve in the spine. Pinching may occur by a herniated disk or overgrowth of a herniated disk. The chance of developing sciatica increases with:
- Age
- Obesity
- Long periods of inactivity
- Diabetes
Symptoms of sciatica
Not sure if you just have lower back pain or sciatica? Here are some common symptoms that indicate you have sciatica.
- Shooting pain along the sciatic nerve
- Numbness
- Tingling sensations
- Muscle weakness
How chiropractic care can help sciatica
First: Find the cause. While sciatica can be a result of an obvious trauma or injury, very often common daily activities or changes in your health can cause the sciatic nerve to become pinched in your spine. A skilled chiropractor can assist in helping you find the cause by performing a comprehensive physical exam and a thorough history. Once the origin of your sciatic pain has been uncovered, and it has been established that you are a good candidate for chiropractic care, the doctor will develop an appropriate treatment plan to correct your condition and reduce future injury
Reduce Pain and Prevent Future Injury
One of the main symptoms of sciatica is shooting pain down your posterior leg. This pain may cause you to limit your range of motion and compensate by using other muscles and joints for mobility. Chiropractic adjustments and other rehabilitative therapies are designed to alleviate pressure on the nerve, reduce inflammation, and achieve musculoskeletal balance, motion, and function. While getting you out of pain is our initial priority, our next priority is to ensure that you achieve maximum correction to prevent future injury and re-occurrence of your sciatica.
At Home Care
Moving can be painful for those with sciatica. However, it is recommended not to sit or lie down for long periods of time. Moving, stretching, and doing normal activities can help you speed up recovery.
Your chiropractor will give you exercises and stretches to do at home. This at home care is essential to get the best results in the shortest amount of time and ensure that your results last. Let our team help you get BACK TO BETTER.
