Understanding Sciatica - Cause and Treatments

Find Relief from Sciatica Pain

If you're currently living with the symptoms of sciatica, you are well aware of how painful and frustrating this condition can be, but you may be surprised to learn that chiropractic care is typically the most effective treatment for this type of affliction. To illustrate this, here we will discuss the condition known as sciatica in a bit more detail, including a list of some of the more common symptoms and potential causes, followed by a brief glimpse at the various chiropractic treatment strategies that have consistently proven effective in alleviating sciatica pain.

Sciatica Symptoms

The sciatic nerve is both the largest and the longest nerve in the human body. Beginning at the base of the spinal column near the pelvis, the sciatic nerve runs down each leg, with five smaller nerves that branch off into the thigh, knee, calf, ankle and foot. Sciatica occurs when any part of this nerve system becomes compressed, irritated or inflamed, and is characterized most frequently by pain, numbness and muscle weakness in the hip, buttock, leg, calf and foot.

Although for most patients the pain, numbness and muscle weakness associated with sciatica will ultimately localize in the hip, buttocks and thigh, it is usually preceded by a few weeks of constant or intermittent pain in the lower back. Over time, however, most people report that leg pain from their sciatica is more intense than the back pain, presenting as either a dull, consistent ache, or a sharp shooting pain that may travel all the way down to the feet and toes. Sciatica pain can last for several days, weeks, or even years if left untreated. In some of the more prolonged and serious cases, sciatica can cause damage to nerves and reflexes, bring about parasthesia (a tingling, pricking sensation), weaken bladder function and even cause muscle deterioration in the legs.

Sciatica Causes

The most common cause of sciatica is a lower spine that is subluxated (misaligned). This slight subluxation causes the root of the sciatic nerve to become pinched, damaged and irritated which puts a great deal of pressure on the nerve and causes pain.

Sciatica can also be caused by a flawed pelvic alignment, causing the sciatic nerve to become pinched as it passes through the buttocks, or from a bulged or herniated spinal disc caused by some type of trauma (a fall, accident, etc.). Other potential, yet slightly less common causes for sciatica include:

• Arthritis
• Tumors
• Diabetes
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Degenerative spinal conditions that cause long-term stress on the lower back

Sciatica and Chiropractic Care

The intensity of symptoms from sciatica can range from problematic, with pain that causes a minor disruption in one's life, to downright debilitating in some of the more serious cases. And unfortunately, many who suffer from sciatica will wait until the pain is unbearable before they seek treatment. This is a big mistake, as waiting too long could result in long-term or even permanent damage. Seeking chiropractic care at the first sign of sciatica pain is always your best course of action.

Chiropractic treatment begins with a medical history to discuss the nature and severity of your symptoms, their onset, and any potential causes. You will then undergo a thorough physical and chiropractic exam; which will typically include x-rays, orthopedic and neurological test, followed by a recommendation on the best course of treatment.

As mentioned above, the two most common causes of sciatica are a misalignment of either the spine or the pelvis, which causes pressure or a blockage on the sciatic nerve. By pinpointing the problem site, your chiropractor can perform manual adjustments that will both free the nerve and correct your spinal alignment. Collectively, these adjustments are designed to correct any miss alignments that are pinching the sciatic nerve, and in turn, causing you pain, numbness and weakness in the affected area.

In addition to these manual spinal adjustments-chiropractors will also employ techniques such as massage therapy, designed to reduce the intensity of muscle spasms in the affected area, as well as traction and ice to help alleviate lingering sciatica symptoms.

Using the services of a chiropractor is perhaps the fastest method available for relieving sciatica pain and restoring functionality. Instead of traditional treatments that usually involve expensive and often addictive pain medications-medications that can be extremely harmful when used long-term-chiropractic care offers a more proactive approach that is not only safer and more effective, but more affordable as well.