Sciatica: What Is It and How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek the care of a healthcare professional. There are a lot of possible causes of back pain, and one of the most common is sciatica. Sciatica has the potential to adversely impact one’s quality of life, and it can lead to a lot of functional issues, too. Fortunately, a chiropractor is available to help, providing exceptional treatment options while limiting complications and side effects. What is sciatica, and how can a chiropractor help people recover from this issue? Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition that develops due to inflammation involving the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in the body. It runs down the length of the back before it divides, passing into each of the legs.
If this nerve is irritated, it becomes inflamed. As a result, the nerve does not function as it should, and people can experience shooting pains, weakness, and numbness in the lower back and legs.
There are a number of possible causes of sciatica. For example, one of the most common causes is a herniated disc. When this takes place, the sciatic nerve can be compressed, leading to a variety of symptoms. Or, people can develop a bone spur on the back that compresses the sciatic nerve. This can lead to similar symptoms as well.
What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica?
Similar to other conditions, the severity of sciatica can vary depending on the scope and severity. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Many people describe shooting pains that travel from the back down one or both of the legs.
- Individuals with sciatica may also develop a pins-and-needles sensation in the lower back or legs.
- Sciatica can also cause the legs to feel weak, making it hard for people to stand up.
- Some people may experience intermittent episodes of numbness involving the lower back and legs.
Many people believe that they need surgery to correct sciatica. Fortunately, this is not always the case, as a chiropractor has a variety of treatment options that could prove helpful.
What Is Chiropractic Care for Sciatica?
Individuals who suffer from sciatica can benefit from a chiropractor. First, a chiropractor will take a look at the back and legs to figure out why the sciatic nerve has become inflamed. After this, the chiropractor will take a look at the alignment of the individual vertebrae, making sure everything is in the right place.
Sometimes, the sciatic nerve is inflamed due to alignment issues. A chiropractor can use a series of controlled thrusts known as chiropractic adjustments to adjust the individual vertebrae, helping to make sure the muscles, ligaments, and tendons are in the right location, too.
After this, the chiropractor can use corrected exercises to strengthen some of the muscles in the back and legs. This is important for providing the spinal column, and the sciatic nerve, with the support it needs to prevent these issues from coming back in the future.
Rely on a Chiropractor for Help With Sciatica
Even though sciatica can be a tremendous quality-of-life issue, there are multiple treatment options available. A chiropractor can help people recover from sciatic nerve injuries while also limiting possible complications and side effects. The goal is to not only treat the symptoms on the surface but also to prevent them from coming back. It is this type of commitment that separates chiropractic care from other treatment options.
If you are suffering from lower back pain, consider reaching out to a chiropractor who can customize a treatment plan to meet your needs. If you don’t have a local chiropractor, give us a call. Our Doctor of Chiropractic specializes in treating people who suffer from sciatica. So give us a call. We’re here to help!