If you’re new to the world of chiropractic care, you may be curious to know the vast array of diseases, conditions, and ailments that chiropractors can help prevent, eliminate, or even cure entirely.

To give you the short answer to if a chiropractor can help with Sciatica, like most detrimental conditions, the answer is yes. For a more detailed write-up, we suggest you read on.

WHAT IS SCIATICA?

Your sciatic nerve is the biggest and longest nerve in your entire body. The sciatic nerve runs all the way from the lower back to both of your feet on either side of the body. Sciatica occurs in the body when the sciatic nerve begins to compress.

Sciatica is often caused by irritation of the roots in the lower lumbar (back) and lumbosacral spine. Many times, your sciatic irritation will be due to a more primary cause that is triggering the compression.

SYMPTOMS OF SCIATICA

Pain on one Side of the Gluteus Maximus (buttock muscle)
Lower Back Pain or Numbness / Tingling in Lower Back
Pain in the back of Leg, Hip, or Rear gets more Intense when Sitting
Difficulty Moving Lower Extremities

CAUSES OF SCIATICA

Bulging Disc
Poor Posture
Heavy Lifting
Physical Injuries, Sports Injuries, Car Accidents, etc.
Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back)
Degenerative Disc Disease (breakdown of discs)
Spondylolisthesis (overlapping discs)

HOW A CHIROPRACTOR CAN HELP WITH SCIATICA

Chiropractors have several ways of assisting with sciatica and many other common medical issues. Chiropractors perform treatments with the intention to assist the patient’s body in healing itself. Another benefit of using a chiropractor is that they are completely non-invasive, or do not use surgery.

Before you ever go through treatment at a Chiropractor for your sciatica you’ll need to get to the cause of your issue. If you’re discovering you have sciatica for the first time you’ll need to undergo certain tests to find the root cause of your issue.

If your Primary Care Physician has recommended Chiropractic care, you more than likely already know the cause of your sciatica and can move forward with treatment.

TREATMENTS A CHIROPRACTOR USES TO HELP SCIATICA

Depending on what the root cause is, the form of treatment will vary. Typically, a Chiropractor will perform one or a combination of the following four treatments to combat your sciatica.

Spinal Manipulation / Adjustments: The core of chiropractic care, spinal manipulation and adjustments free restricted movement on the spine and assist in re-aligning out of place vertebrae. Spinal adjustments assist with lessening nerve irritability like that caused by sciatica.

Spinal Decompression: This treatment takes pressure off the pinched nerves and other structures by gently stretching the spine.

Physical Therapy: Often used in conjunction with chiropractic care, physical therapy is treatment and exercises concerned with the remediation of your impairment. This helps to educate and restore you to your former active lifestyle.

TENS / Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: A muscle stimulating machine designed to apply variable intensities of electrical current to control acute pain and reduce muscle spasms. TENS systems are widely used by many doctors and can assist with sciatica.

Ultrasound: Lightly applied heat produced by sound waves that penetrate deep into the body’s tissue. Ultrasound can assist with many things, but especially with thwarting the stiffness and pain caused by sciatica.

Hot/Cold Therapy: Therapy that uses heat or cold applications to reduce swelling and sciatic pain.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH

Are you considering you may have sciatica after this article? Have you been battling with sciatica for years and are looking for a new route? Don’t hesitate to call Dr. Blakely for a diagnosis today! Dr. Blakely is certified to diagnose and help treat your sciatica non-invasively. It’s our goal at Blakely Chiropractic to guide your body with proven chiropractic treatments.