Sciatica is definitely no walk in the park. With sharp, shooting pains that radiate from the top of the buttocks down the back of the leg, walking and even standing are often a challenge. Unfortunately, unlike other forms of pain, nerve-related pain caused by sciatica isn’t responsive to over-the-counter medications. For those living with this condition, both pain relief and improved overall functioning are the ultimate goals. After all, a good treatment for sciatica won’t just make your body feel better; it will also improve how your body functions. If you’re looking for a natural and effective way to address sciatica, it’s important to understand its underlying cause.
This condition develops whenever the sciatic nerve becomes pinched or compression. Sciatic nerve compression can be the result of a slipped disc, a bone spur, or even damages to the nerve resulting from chronic conditions like diabetes. When slipped or herniated discs are the cause, chiropractors can use a number of hands-on techniques to promote relief and expedite overall healing. From manual and computer-assisted adjustments to massage and inversion, there are countless therapies that can be leveraged to arrive an effective treatment plan. A chiropractor can even help you learn more about the different factors that may have created the conditions for sciatica. With this help, you can start implementing lifestyle changes that support your recovery, and that will additionally limit your likelihood of having to deal with this issue again.
What to Expect When Receiving Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
Chiropractic care for sciatica always starts with a comprehensive examination. The goal of this assessment is to learn more about the structure or structures that are compressing the sciatic nerve. In rare instances, sciatica is the result of nerve compression that’s caused by an existing or developing tumor. When serious medical issues like this exist, a chiropractor may be able to work with your doctor by providing therapies that support immune functioning, foster higher levels of energy, and promote overall wellness.
This is also true when sciatica is caused by diabetes-related damages. Even when it’s not possible to reduce sciatic pressure with hands-on therapies, chiropractors are frequently able to implement treatments for helping the body better help itself. More commonly, spinal adjustment therapies are employed for gradually repositioning the spine to correct subluxations that are causing nerve compression. Whether performed manually or computer-assisted, spinal manipulation restores alignment over the course of multiple office visits. With each session, slight movements are made to restore balance. These incremental improvements help minimize the frequency and intensity of the sharp, shooting pains that sciatica causes by reducing pressure on the nerve.
These benefits can be significantly enhanced by other therapies such as massage, acupuncture, or even inversion. During your consultation appointment, you may be asked a number of questions about your lifestyle, past injury events, and other factors relating to your spinal health, and your general health. When chiropractors identify habits or other life factors that may be responsible for disk movement, they’ll make recommendations for lifestyle changes that both assist their treatments and keep problems from recurring. As with all problems relating to the musculoskeletal system, sciatica can cause people to rely more heavily on surrounding muscles, joints, or other musculoskeletal structures.
This can create secondary pain and a host of secondary problems such as muscle spasms, tension headaches, hip pain, and even foot pain among other things. By correcting sciatica at its source, it’s possible to make these secondary issues abate on their own.
In many cases, additional therapies can be used to expedite the return to overall musculoskeletal balance, and pain-free movement. Therapies like:
- Hot and cold therapy
- Ultrasound therapy
- Cupping
- Hydrotherapy
can also be helpful. Treatments like these can promote rapid and remarkable decreases in pain and inflammation across all affected areas.
Thus, even though it may take several visits to reach your ultimate wellness goals, you’ll have the benefit of experiencing noticeable improvements after every session. The right strengthening and stretching exercises can greatly enhance sciatica treatments. These lengthen and relax strained muscles, and ensure that every structure is capable of doing its job effectively.
When necessary for recovery, chiropractors also provide weight management support and nutritional guidance. Identifying and addressing nutritional deficiencies and helping patients achieve healthy body weights can be important for protecting and supporting the spine. If you’ve been living with the excruciating pain of sciatica and want an all-natural and lasting solution, we can help. Get in touch with us now by calling 205-637-1363.
