Chiropractic for Sciatica Pain Relief

What Is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the most substantial nerve group in the body since it comprises five individual spinal nerves extending from the low back down to the toes. When the sciatic nerve is pressed against an adjoining structure in the body or becomes irritated, sciatica pain occurs.  Dysfunction in the lower body and widespread pain can be caused by sciatic nerve issues.

Common Causes of Sciatica Pain

Increased risk of sciatic nerve pain can be caused by many factors, but the following conditions seem to be significantly linked to it:

• Sedentary lifestyle
• Overweight or diabetes
• Frequent bending or lifting
• Sports Injury
• Work Injury
• Car accident
• Pregnancy

Although people with these conditions are more likely to develop sciatic nerve pain, anyone can develop this kind of pain subsequent to repetitive muscle strain or an accident. Common sciatica triggers can include hip arthritis, pregnancy, and even legs that differ in length.

During these events, there is some form of sciatic nerve compression happening. This can cause pain in the entire lower body whether the compression is caused by bulging discs, weight gain, or misaligned vertebrae.

Occasionally, after bending over to pick up an object, a patient can develop sudden back pain. Although it may seem like their pain was caused by this simple action, sciatic nerve compression develops over time, so this is only the final step in a long chain of events of underlying conditions.

Symptoms of Sciatica Pain

Some patients say sciatic nerve pain is like a pins and needles sensation or a dull ache while others often describe it as a stabbing or shooting pain. Most often, pain radiates down the back of the legs; however, patients we see at Vital Wellness Center have also reported pain that travels from the low back to the toes.

Sciatica can cause loss of function in the legs, thighs, and toes in addition to shooting pain down one or both of the legs. Burning or tingling sensations can also develop in patients making it hard to feel lower body sensations. This can be dangerous for patients with diabetes since they might not feel a scratch or cut that could lead to a potentially severe infection due to this reduced sensory function. Everyday tasks can also become difficult since sciatica nerve issues can also cause weakness.

Sciatica can vary across patients making this one of the most challenging aspects to provide relief. Sciatic nerve issues can become a constant problem or flare intermittently, and the pain can range from intensely debilitating to only mildly disturbing. Sciatica always substantially impacts the patient’s quality of life no matter which frequency or level they experience.

How Our Chiropractic Works to Eliminate Sciatica Pain

Chiropractic for sciatica pain targets the source of sciatic nerve pain. Keeping the spine in proper alignment can eliminate or reduce nerve compression since the spine surrounds the beginning of the sciatic nerve. Subluxation, in chiropractic medicine, is any deviation in the spine that interferes with the nerves. Addressing sciatic nerve issues at the source can be accomplished by eliminating subluxations.

The body has a remarkable ability to heal which is another guiding principle of chiropractic medicine. At Vital Wellness Center, we don’t just “crack your back and send you back” the way you arrived at our practice. We strive to improve your quality of life by optimizing nutrition, sleep, and movement. We focus on helping you to incorporate research-proven elements into your life, such as mindfulness-based relaxation, a strong social network of friends and family, and several other lifestyle factors which play a fundamental role in excellent health.

Sciatica Pain Interventions

At Vital Wellness Center chiropractor, Dr. Foss, not only helps our patients find relief from pain, but we also focus on helping them live better lives; however, we begin with relieving pain. In our experience, patients need to have less pain before they can focus their attention on improving other areas of their lives. Our chiropractic interventions vary from patient to patient since we target the source of pain. Some of our more popular options are outlined below, but we always welcome questions from current or prospective patients

Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan

One of the most effective ways of building flexibility and strength is through exercise which is why we prescribe it to all of our patients. Muscles provide stable support when they are balanced and coordinated which allows the spine to move freely and remain supple. Spinal subluxations are more likely to occur when muscles are not in balance.

Although our patients feel better after chiropractic adjustments, exercise is an important part of getting healthier. In order to maintain healthy spinal alignment, the body must form enough muscular support which can be accomplished through consistently performed exercise. At Vital Wellness Center, our patients are assessed when they move, sit and stand in order to analyze their muscle tone and movement patterns. We then provide our patients with a comprehensive therapeutic exercise plan that is designed to build muscle where it is most needed.

Laser Therapy

Another excellent way to address the underlying causes of sciatica is laser therapy. Laser therapy is an innovative intervention that targets inflammation. Since inflammation compounds the nerve irritation caused by spinal subluxation, eliminating or reducing inflammation is an essential part of alleviating sciatica pain. 

Our laser therapy uses red light to penetrate all levels of tissue including tissue at the cellular level. The mitochondria are stimulated when the therapy reaches the inside of the cell. Since the mitochondria act as the fuel generator for the cell, stimulating the mitochondria ensures the cell has what it needs to perform. When the cells perform properly inflammation resolves and is replaced by a climate where healing can occur.

Other Supportive Sciatica Interventions

Vital Wellness Center offers a variety of supportive therapies in addition to the interventions mentioned above. Occasionally, we use a TENS unit which stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. A TENS unit is a large, battery-operated box that is regularly used in rehabilitation, chiropractic, and physical therapy offices. It can relieve pain and calm muscle spasms by delivering a customizable intensity of electrical current to the affected area. Smaller units are also available for use at home.

Many people associate ultrasound with the first happy glimpse of their baby during pregnancy, but regardless of pregnancy, ultrasound can be used to soothe sciatica. Ultrasound therapy uses gentle heat and sound waves to bathe the sore muscles. The increased circulation caused by heat helps to reduce sciatica pain and the spasms, swelling, stiffness, and muscle cramps that generally come along with it.

When To Seek Chiropractic For Sciatica

Although general homecare such as rest or ice packs may help to resolve mild sciatic nerve pain on its own, seeking chiropractic care immediately is recommended if your pain:

• Does not get better with supportive home care or worsens
• Results in leg weakness or numbness
• Leads to an episode of incontinence
• Has been going on for longer than a week

Sciatica Pain Relief For You

Keeping the sciatica nerve in good health is a priority since it affects the entire lower body. If you found Vital Wellness Center by searching for “sciatica treatment near me,” we welcome you to meet with us and see what chiropractic for sciatica pain can offer. Start your journey toward a healthier life and call us today.

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