The sciatic nerve is a nerve that runs from your lower back, down your buttock and hip, the back of your leg, and down to your calves and toes. Each vertebra in the spine has a nerve associated with it. In your lower back, these nerves exit and combine to form the sciatic nerve together.
The sciatic nerve can get irritated or pinched before it exits the spine, or the entire sciatic nerve can get entrapped after it leaves your spine. Therefore, sciatic nerve pain can provide many different signs and symptoms.
At Chiropractic Pain Solutions, we understand how sciatica pain can disrupt your life, limiting your mobility and overall well-being. We are committed to providing effective sciatica pain relief through a combination of techniques and personalized treatment plans.
We focus on understanding the root cause of your sciatica, whether it's a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or piriformis syndrome, to offer targeted solutions that alleviate pain and restore your quality of life. Our approach is not just about temporary relief; it's about helping you achieve long-term wellness.
Sciatica involves pain along the sciatic nerve path, from the lower back to the leg, often due to a herniated disk or spinal stenosis. Symptoms include sharp pain, numbness, or an electric shock sensation, especially when sitting or coughing. Treatment ranges from physical therapy and medications to, in severe cases, surgery, aiming to alleviate pain and improve mobility.
Sciatica symptoms include sharp pain, numbness, and a tingling sensation that radiates from the lower back through the hip and down one leg. The discomfort can vary from a mild ache to severe pain, often exacerbated by sitting, coughing, or sneezing.
When individuals are between 20 and 65 years old, back pain or sciatica is often attributed to disc irritation, bulge, or herniation. A sudden onset of pain while performing simple tasks like bending over to tie a shoe or picking up a light object isn't usually a direct cause of injury but rather the culmination of gradual injury over time. This can happen when the abdominal wall isn't utilized correctly, leading to strain on the back muscles and discs.
In some instances, the pain may stem from lifting heavy objects without proper form or core stabilization.
For those over 65, the cause is often spinal stenosis, a condition where the spine experiences arthritis, leading to compression and irritation of the sciatic nerve.
We have several methods for treating sciatica at Chiropractic Pain Solutions. One of the most effective initial treatments for sciatica will be from the McKenzie method. McKenzie movements utilize pain-free movements to help restore normal function in your spine and alleviate your symptoms. Once we find the movement best for you, these simple movements will be a tool for you at home to help speed up your recovery.
We also utilize a Flexion-Distraction table in the right cases, which can help speed recovery by applying gentle distracting forces to the spine.
We will then transition to strengthening and stabilizing your abdominal wall to prevent sciatica and give you the tools to get back to work and life.