Sharp pain and weakness in the legs and feet are common signs of sciatica. This pain comes from a pinched nerve that runs through the lower back, buttocks and into each leg.
Regular visits to a chiropractor can help prevent sciatica by removing pressure from the nerves in your lumbar spine. Chiropractors can also offer strengthening and stretching exercises to reduce pain and improve your overall posture.
Common Symptoms
Sciatica pain occurs when a nerve in the lumbar (lower) spine becomes compressed. This entrapment is irritated due to herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis (when one of the lower vertebrae slips forward on the one beneath it). The swelling results in pain that radiates down your legs and sometimes into your feet and toes. Usually, the pain only affects one side of your body.
Typical symptoms include lower back pain that extends into the hip or buttock and down the back of your leg. Occasionally, a burning sensation or tingling may accompany the pain. Pain generally intensifies with sudden movements such as twisting, coughing or sneezing.
It’s important to seek medical attention for sciatica early, as the condition can progress to a debilitating stage. Your chiropractor will be able to diagnose the cause of your sciatica and provide treatment that helps ease pain and restore mobility. In addition to spinal manipulation, your chiropractor may use ultrasound and TENS units to improve circulation, reduce inflammation or edema, and lessen muscle spasms and pain.
Diagnosis
If you’ve ever experienced sharp, stabbing pain or that dull ache that can take hold of the lower half of your legs if you sit for too long, you may be suffering from sciatica. This pain usually occurs on only one side and radiates from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down to the knee or sometimes all the way to your feet.
Sciatica is a condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve in the lower spine becomes compressed, irritated, or pinched. It can cause symptoms ranging from minor discomfort to severe pain and can even lead to loss of bladder or bowel control.
To diagnosis sciatica, chiropractors will look at a patient’s medical history and perform a physical exam of the affected areas. They’ll also order an X-ray or MRI scan to find the source of the problem and develop a game plan for relieving it. This can include spinal manipulation, physical therapy and acupuncture.
Treatment
If pain killers and heating packs are not providing relief for you, it may be time to visit a sciatica chiropractor. Sciatica is a pinched nerve that creates shooting pain, numbness or tingling in one of your legs or feet. It’s caused by herniated discs, spinal misalignments, or other conditions that compress the nerve.
A sciatica chiropractor can help alleviate your symptoms and prevent them from returning. Treatments include manual adjustments, massages, and electrical stimulation. A sciatica chiropractor will also focus on addressing the underlying issues that cause your pain.
To determine the root of your sciatica, your chiropractor will review your medical history and do a physical and neurological examination. They will then use diagnostic tests to check the status of your back and spine, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography scans, and electromyography. These tests can detect herniated discs and other spinal conditions that cause sciatica. They can also be helpful in detecting other conditions that might affect your pain, such as diabetes or constipation.
Prevention
Sciatica is a symptom of an underlying condition like herniated disc or spinal stenosis. These conditions cause pressure on the sciatic nerve and can lead to pain, inflammation, numbness, and weakness in your lower back, buttocks, and down the back of your leg to your foot.
A chiropractor can treat sciatica with manual therapies. These include spinal manipulation or adjustment, which involves applying a sudden force to the spine to relieve pain and improve alignment. Ice/cold therapy helps decrease inflammation and control sciatic nerve pain. In addition, chiropractors use ultrasound to generate gentle heat through sound waves to enhance circulation and alleviate muscle spasms. TENS units (a box-shaped, battery-powered machine that sends a low level of electrical currents to the muscles) are also used for pain control.
Regular chiropractic treatment can help you prevent future sciatica episodes. Your chiropractor can recommend stretches that strengthen the lower back and pelvic muscles, which can reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve. They can also provide ergonomic training for patients who perform physical labor, such as teaching them to lift objects with their legs instead of twisting the back and alternating standing and sitting positions frequently.sciatica chiropractor