One of the most frequent complaints made by patients when they visit their Chiropractor specialist in Kailua is sciatica. Sciatica is not a commonly known condition but is easily identifiable by our medical team because most patients will point to their back, hips, or outer side of their leg, the main areas where the pain tends to surface.
Sciatica is actually a symptom of an underlying medical problem such as a lumbar herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. Sciatica can have many characteristics in patients but the most common is numbness or tingling in one leg that may make it hard to sit or stand in certain positions. It can also cause a sharp pain that can hinder your ability to walk. The pain is worse when sitting and rarely occurs in both legs. These symptoms can appear gradually or abruptly overnight.
Causes of Sciatica
Our chiropractors here at Oahu Spine & Rehab can help patients to understand the causes of sciatica. Sciatica pain is a result of the irritation or compression of sciatic nerves running from the back down to the feet. Static nerves relay messages from the back and brain to both legs, allowing for movement and sensitivity to touch.
Some of the most common medical problems that cause sciatica are:
- Lumbar herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Isthmic spondylolisthesis
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Piriformis syndrome
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
Chiropractor experts help to reduce sciatica pain by ensuring that the pelvis and spine are aligned properly. This reverts the compression of sciatic nerves and helps to address any of the conditions discussed above. The treatment aims to enhance the body’s ability to heal itself, based on the theory that less movement along the spine can cause pain and hinder performance. It applies non-invasive techniques and does not involve the use of drugs so there is hardly any risk involved.
The type of chiropractic therapy used may vary depending on what led to sciatica pain in the patient. Chiropractors often offer different methods such as TENS, spinal adjustments, and ice/cold therapy. Most people with Sciatica will respond well to chiropractic treatment but will still need to adjust their lifestyle to reduce the chances of recurring sciatica pain. It’s also important to exercise, eat healthily and maintain proper posture. Here at Oahu Spine & Rehab we can help ease your sciatica symptoms and correct the underlying problem so that you are back to your full health.
Resources:
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-you-need-know-about-sciatica