In chiropractic medicine, treatment of sciatica (lumbosacral radicular syndrome) is a regular practice. It is a non-invasive, conservative treatment.
The sciatic nerve goes from the low back into both legs reaching the toes. It is composed of the nerve roots that come out of the spine. Because of the sciatic nerve, you can move your legs and feel all the sensations.
When having sciatica, pain comes from the lower part of the back or buttock and extends into one or both legs.
As you get older, the risk for sciatica increases.
Pain can be either very minimal, mild or severe. It also differs how frequent it is.
Common symptoms
- Sharp pain in the leg or rear
- Tingling and burning in the leg
- Numbness, needles, and weakness in the affected part
- Difficulty to move the leg
The Causes
- The roots of the spine get irritated
- Degenerative disc disease (spine-disc breakdown)
- Piriformis syndrome (buttocks-muscle becomes tight)
- Spondylolisthesis (vertebra get’s slipped)
- Osteoarthritis
- Obesity
- Pregnancy (isn’t common)
- Long sitting
- Lack of exercise
- Sleeping on a soft bed
Treatments for Sciatica
- Ice therapy, reducing inflammation and numbness.
- Heat therapy. The heat makes blood vessels wider so oxygen can flow to the painful areas. Using ice and heat interchangeably is one of the most helpful sciatica treatments.
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). This therapy uses an electrical current of the low voltage to relief pain.
- Low heat of sound waves goes deep into the tissues.
- Spinal Manipulation (Adjustments) is a combination of moving joints, exercise, physical therapy, and massage. It lessens inflammation and makes nerves function better.
Before the procedure, a chiropractor will diagnose the patient to see what the condition is.
Many patients experience improvement of their state right away after chiropractic procedure.
It is important to have a thorough checkup by a doctor who will do a complete examination of the muscles, joints, and nerves.
If your symptoms include loss of bowel and bladder control, together with numbness in the anus area, and harsh pain in your back or leg, you might have a “cauda equina.” In that case, call medical emergency.
Here at Back & Body Medical, we offer chiropractic care that can treat your sciatica with excellent results.
