Sciatica is associated with pain, numbness, and muscle weakness in the hip, buttock, leg, calf, and foot. The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest of all the body's nerves. It runs from the spinal column near the pelvis down each leg and can be as wide as your thumb.  Sciatica occurs when this nerve is compressed, irritated, or inflamed.

For advice on how a chiropractor can treat these conditions, please click to request a Free Chiropractic Exam.

Causes of Sciatica:

Spinal disc herniation

Herniation of a disc occurs when the liquid center of the disc bulges outwards, tearing the external ring of fibers, extrudes into the spinal canal, and compresses a nerve root against the lamina or pedicle of a vertebra, thus causing sciatica. This extruded liquid from the center of the disc may cause inflammation and swelling of surrounding tissue which may cause further compression of the nerve root in the confined space in the spinal canal.

Piriformis syndrome

In 15% of the population, the sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle rather than beneath it. When the muscle shortens or spasms due to trauma or overuse, it can compress or strangle the sciatic nerve beneath the muscle. 

Don't Suffer in Pain:

Many times people with sciatica wait until the pain becomes unbearable before they contact the chiropractor. Waiting can cause long-term damage. It is important that you contact your chiropractor when the pain originally begins. A number of sciatica treatments can be prescribed (that don't include surgery or medications) to help with your sciatica. The first thing your chiropractor will do is review your complete medical history to determine when the problem began and the possible causes. Then a complete physical and chiropractic exam is performed, and x-rays may be taken. Your chiropractor will review and discuss the results with you and make recommendations for sciatica treatment.

Sometimes, a chiropractor will find the source of the nerve blockage and use manual adjustments to correct the spinal misalignment. The adjustments are designed to remove the blockage that is pinching the sciatic nerve and causing the pain. Massage therapy may be used to reduce muscle spasms. Ultrasound and ice therapies are also used to relieve the symptoms of sciatica. Pain medications merely mask the symptoms and never heal the cause, and surgery should always be the last resort. In most cases of patients who have received spinal manipulations, x-rays taken after sciatica treatment have shown improvement in the spinal alignment as well as a reduction of symptoms. Chiropractic care works, so contact a specialist today if you experience any of the symptoms of sciatica.

For advice on how a chiropractor can treat these conditions, please click to request a Free Chiropractic Exam.

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