HOW YOUR CHIROPRACTOR CAN HELP WITH YOUR SCIATICA
Have you ever had shooting pains from your lower back down your leg? You might have sciatica. This condition is more common than most people think. According to Harvard Health Publishing, approximately 40% of people will get sciatica at some point in their life.
This is because chances rise with age. The good news is that most cases of sciatica may be treated with time and chiropractic care. Our chiropractor Omaha, NE team is glad to provide some information on sciatica and how a chiropractor may help treat it.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is the pain caused by sciatic nerve irritation. The sciatic nerve is the body's largest nerve. It is formed by a bundle of nerves that begin in your lower back and sacrum and before moving deep into the buttock and down the thigh to the foot.
While many people believe they have sciatica, buttock, and thigh pain that is not caused by the sciatic nerve is very common. The pain is usually referred to from another structure of the lumbar spine or the sacroiliac (SI) joint. Deep referred pain is common in chiropractic clinics and responds well to chiropractic spinal manipulation.
The most common cause of true sciatica is a herniated or bulging lumbar disc that pinches a spinal nerve root. This can happen as a result of an injury, but it can also happen for no apparent reason. Sciatic pain is also commonly caused by spine arthritis and age-related disc degeneration.
What causes sciatica?
Sciatica causes pain and other symptoms when something presses or rubs on the sciatic nerve. This pressing or rubbing may be related to a specific injury, but sciatica can also develop over time without a pre-existing injury. This can be very confusing and worrying at times, but it is not causing concern. Sciatica can be caused by the following factors:
- Injuries to the discs between the vertebra in our spine
- Spinal stenosis - is an age-related condition in which the area of the spine through which nerves pass narrows.
- Muscular tension in the buttocks, which irritates the sciatic nerve
- Other back injuries
Whatever the underlying cause of your sciatica, there are several things that may be done to reduce the irritation on the nerve, reduce your pain, and alleviate other symptoms.
How is Sciatica Treated?
There are numerous chiropractic treatments for the relief of sciatica pain, including:
- Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation also referred to as a chiropractic adjustment, is a chiropractic treatment that relieves sciatica pain by maintaining the lumbar spine motion, restoring normal muscle tone, and normalizing the pain response. This treatment can reduce the irritation of the nerves that causes sciatica-related pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms.
- Flexion-Distraction
This type of chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain relief aims to give the spinal nerve more space by widening the spinal canal and relieving pressure on the spinal nerves. The patient lies face down on a specialized table, allowing the chiropractor to provide the patient with comfortable lumbar spine flexion and segmental vertebral traction.
- Spinal Decompression
The low back is gently stretched on a traction table as part of the decompression chiropractic therapy for sciatica pain relief. Herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, and other back conditions are treated using spinal traction.
It is important to note for persons experiencing severe sciatic pain that it is typical for the pain to come and go during the healing process. If the pain lasts longer than it comes, it is a good sign that you are healing.
Tips for Preventing Sciatica
Sciatica may seem to be an unavoidable occurrence that happens out of nowhere. While some cases of sciatica are caused by an injury or just pop up, there are a number of things you may take to avoid developing sciatica.
Normal aging causes your muscles, spine, and bones to shift and degrade slowly. These conditions increase the likelihood of something slipping and pressing or damaging your sciatic nerve.
Many age-related issues can be avoided by making positive lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important factors in preventing sciatica.
Extra weight puts additional pressure on your spine and back muscles, making them more prone to issues. Anything that strengthens or protects your spine will help you fight off sciatica.
The same goes for the muscles that work with or around your spine. Specifically, you should work on strengthening your back and core muscles. A strong core may maintain your torso tight and in terrific shape, allowing you to deal with strenuous situations that could hurt your back.
Consult your chiropractor about back and core strengthening activities that can help with sciatica treatment.
When preventing sciatica, a final point to consider is to be aware of your posture when performing strenuous tasks. Working out in the weight room, for example, can be extremely dangerous to your back.
Heavy squats or deadlifts performed incorrectly can quickly shift and damage your spine, resulting in sciatica. You may sustain more serious spine damage that necessitates surgery.
Get Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica Pain Relief
Sciatica pain can be debilitating and significantly interfere with daily life. In Omaha, NE, Komp Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic can provide effective chiropractic treatment options for sciatica pain relief. Schedule an appointment to begin treating your sciatica pain.
