Pain relief for your sciatica

Pain relief for your sciatica

We have all heard the term “sciatica.” Anyone who has had it knows that it is one of the most painful conditions one can experience. This article describes sciatica, its cause, and a safe, gentle form of treatment that allows you to avoid back surgery.

Strictly speaking, sciatica is the pinching of the sciatic nerve. Five smaller nerves leave the lower spine and merge to form the sciatic nerve. It is the largest nerve in the body (about the size of a finger) and also the longest nerve in the body, with fibers running from the lower back to the toes. Pain from the sciatic nerve is called “sciatica.”

Sciatica is often caused by a problem with a disc in the lower back. These discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or protrude backward and come into contact with smaller nerves or the sciatic nerve itself. The symptoms of sciatica include lower back pain, buttock pain, and pain in the side or back of the thigh, calf, and foot. Numbness and tingling may also occur in the lower extremities.

Diagnosing sciatica begins with a medical history from a doctor and a physical examination. Typically, X-rays and possibly MRI imaging will be obtained. Treatment can take many paths, but seeing a chiropractor for treatment is a non-surgical, drug-free approach that many will follow.

Chiropractors treat sciatica by looking for the cause of the problem. As already mentioned, intervertebral discs in the spine are affected. They typically become compressed and put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Therefore, a common form of treatment used by chiropractors is traction to decompress the discs. Other conservative treatment methods may include the use of cold packs to reduce inflammation, electrical muscle stimulation to relax muscles during spasms, and gentle chiropractic manipulation to realign spinal and pelvic misalignments.

Chiropractors may also apply deep pressure, trigger point therapy, to muscles in the hip area and along the lower spine.

Lifestyle recommendations and home exercises can be an important part of healing. Because a disc problem that causes sciatica is usually worse in the morning, it is important that patients start their day slowly with a very gentle warm-up routine. Those who suffer from sciatica find that warming up their back makes the rest of the day much easier.

Chiropractic treatment for sciatica typically lasts from several weeks to several months. Since the source of the problem lies in the lower back, any discomfort that travels down the leg is referred to as referred pain. As healing progresses, most patients will notice a decrease in their leg pain. This is a positive sign, and it is usually just a matter of time and treatment before the pain is completely eliminated.

The good news is that chiropractors have been helping patients heal from sciatica for over 125 years. Check with your chiropractor first before deciding on surgery. Safe, gentle chiropractic care for sciatic nerve relief is the best approach for many

Inspired by James Schofield