Treating Sciatica with Chiropractic Care
Sciatica is an extremely painful condition involving the sciatic nerve, the longest and largest nerve in the human body. It extends along the back of the leg from the buttocks to the inside of the ankle. When it becomes traumatized or inflamed, the result is agonizing and sometimes temporarily incapacitating.
Symptoms may include intense leg pain, numbness, tingling or burning, with pain radiating throughout the lower back. Many people who experience these symptoms feel discouraged or afraid. They often think this type of debilitating pain means facing the risks and consequences of surgery or drugs, or that nothing can help.
Chiropractic treatment can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of sciatica. Your chiropractic physician will design a treatment program especially for you, taking into consideration the extent and intensity of your condition. He may order x-rays or even more specialized diagnostic tests such as a CT scan or MRI. He will perform a physical exam, which includes general physical, orthopedic and neurological evaluations as well as specific chiropractic evaluations. This will enable him to locate the areas of pain and restriction of motion. Sciatica is an especially difficult condition because it may involve muscles, bones, discs, ligaments and nerves which each require several steps in their healing.
Once he knows the nature and extent of your problem, he can design a treatment program for you, taking into account your specific symptoms, needs and restrictions. One element of that program will probably be a chiropractic adjustment to remove pressure from the sciatic nerve and help relieve the pain, allowing the body to heal itself. The adjustment should reduce muscle spasm, help restore normal mobility and promote circulation, which helps to ensure proper nutrition to the joints and spine. This decreases irritation, inflammation and pain. He may also recommend an exercise program, proper diet and rest regimens, ice packs and additional related treatments to help you on the road to recovery.