The often-intense pain that accompanies sciatica can be debilitating. This pain typically radiates from the lower back to the back of the thigh and calf, causing discomfort that can make it difficult to walk, stand or even sit for extended periods at work.
Although sciatica can be a constant nuisance and interrupt a person’s normal routine, it can be treated successfully with proper care and attention. At Aligned Modern Health, we believe chiropractic care is a safe and effective noninvasive course of treatment for sciatica. Our team, which includes experienced chiropractic physicians, will design an individualized treatment plan with a goal of not only reducing or eliminating your symptoms, but resolving any underlying issues contributing to your sciatic condition.
What Is Sciatica? What Are Some Sciatica Signs/Symptoms?
Sciatica is a condition affecting the sciatic nerve, located where the spine connects with the lower back. Sciatica is caused by the compression of a section of the nerve. The most common sciatica signs/symptoms are pain and tingling in one leg, but it can affect both legs. This pain may be mild to severe — ranging from a dull ache to a sharp, burning pain that is excruciating. In severe cases, sciatica can lead to long-term complications, including:
- Loss of feeling in the affected leg(s)
- Weakness in the affected leg(s)
- Loss of bowel and bladder function
There are a number of possible sciatica causes. The most common culprits are herniated disks, bone spurs in the vertebrae, and narrowing of the spinal column along the sciatic nerve. Each condition can cause sciatica by pressing on the sciatic nerve, which causes pain and inflammation. For anyone concerned about sciatica, info about risk factors can be critical. Common risk factors include aging, higher-than-average body weight, being diabetic, and an inactive lifestyle.
Sciatica Treatments: How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Sciatica treatments can range from simple self-care to complex surgery, depending on the condition’s severity. The American College of Physicians promotes conservative care and chiropractic treatments as a first response for pain. At Aligned Modern Health, we use a scientific, evidence-based approach to physical medicine in treating sciatica as well as many other conditions.
If a misaligned vertebra is causing the sciatic pain, a physical medicine expert from Aligned Modern Health’s chiropractic team can make adjustments designed to realign the spine. This will reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve, providing relief. Depending on how long the condition has persisted, several treatments could be needed.
In many cases, spinal manipulation has proved as effective as surgery at treating sciatica. Sixty percent of patients whose sciatica was due to a herniated disk experienced pain relief equivalent to those who eventually had surgery, according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. The study included 120 participants.
At Aligned Modern Health, we believe that safe, noninvasive treatment is the best course for helping patients suffering from sciatica feel better and live life to the fullest.
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