- July 17, 2023
A chiropractor help with sciatic nerve pain. Sciatica is a painful and debilitating condition. It is caused by the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which starts in the lower back and runs down the leg. This is the nerve with the largest diameter in the entire nervous system. Patients experience sharp pain down one leg, making it difficult to walk or even put weight down the affected leg.
Sciatica is a chronic condition, for which Western medicine has no specific treatment. At our clinic, we believe that chiropractic care for sciatica is an effective therapy for managing the condition. You can make an appointment with us by calling (239) 369-9109.
Understanding the Way Chiropractic Care for Sciatica Works
One thing you should know is that a natural and non-invasive therapy does not have instant results, like painkillers. Some patients experience pain relief after a few sessions. For others, who waited longer before seeing a chiropractor, the first beneficial results might not be noticeable right away.
It is important to remain optimistic and understand that the alternative – taking pills – is not good for you. They only numb the pain, doing nothing to solve the root cause. At the same time, these pills may also cause dangerous side effects if you use them for a long period. For instance, long-term use of over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is linked to an increased risk of heart attack, according to Harvard Medical School.
Benefits of Going to a Chiropractor to Manage Sciatica Pain
Chiropractic care is not the first solution most people think of when it comes to seeking pain relief. However, this is often the most effective and reliable form of therapy.
Here are some of the most important benefits of chiropractic care for sciatica:
1. Safe and Addiction-Free Pain Relief Method
Patients with sciatica may rely on painkillers before seeking chiropractic care. Worse, the longer you rely on painkillers, the more often you need to increase the dose you take to experience pain relief. In some cases, these doses become very high, reaching unsafe levels.
Chiropractic care for sciatica does not involve any kind of oral or injectable medication. The specialist’s manipulations are aimed at solving spinal misalignments and allowing the sciatic nerve to heal naturally.
2. The Chiropractor Focuses on You as a Whole Person
Chiropractic care is the healthcare specialty that believes in healing the patient, not simply making a simple symptom go away. The initial appointment starts with a full physical evaluation and a close look into your medical history.
The treatment plan will be tailored to your specific condition and particularities – including gentler manipulations for people who have a low tolerance to pain. Many patients discover that chiropractic care for sciatica also solved other complaints they had, such as slow digestion. The reason for this is that realigning the vertebrae in your spine will make your entire nervous system function properly again.
3. Receive Helpful Advice to Improve Your Lifestyle
As we mentioned above, being sedentary and overweight are two key factors that favor the onset of sciatica. A chiropractor wants not only to help you feel better but also prevent further painful episodes.
In this respect, chiropractic care for sciatica takes a holistic approach to your health and well-being. The doctor will recommend simple exercises that you can do at home to be more active, as well as a healthy diet.
The Benefits of Physiotherapy for Relieving the Pain of Sciatica
Chiropractic care is not the only solution to sciatic nerve pain. Physiotherapy is the scientific approach to pain management and abatement that does not rely on medication. Rather than possible long-term medication dependency, physiotherapy allows your body to treat itself from the inside out. It addresses musculoskeletal pain and helps you get and stay as physically healthy as possible.
If you or a loved one is struggling with the pain of sciatica, physiotherapy can offer you the following benefits that can help you get back to living your best life:
1. Physiotherapy Can Provide Long-Term Results
The massage portion of physiotherapy, alone, can often offer significant relief for sciatica sufferers. As part of a rehabilitation program, and combined with the additional benefits of chiropractic care, all the components of physiotherapy can offer long-term relief from pain, discomfort, and limited mobility.
Your chiropractor will work with you to create a customized program of physiotherapy techniques to help you feel better.
2. Physiotherapy Can Alleviate Persistent Weakness
According to Cleveland Clinic research, weakness is one of the telltale symptoms of sciatica. Weakness can make it difficult for your muscles to perform at their best. With physiotherapy, you can address long-term weaknesses that impede your functionality and make your gait difficult even after your pain has been addressed.
Physiotherapy (also called physical therapy) can help you achieve a better range of motion and greater control of your muscles.
3. Physiotherapy Can Retrain Your Body’s Movements
When you suffer from a painful condition like sciatica, you almost inadvertently learn to move your body differently to accommodate painful motions. When the condition lingers, those altered motions can linger due simply to force of habit.
Physiotherapy can help you adapt to the new way your body moves and discover motions that make it easier for you to get around. Learning to move your body in more beneficial ways can help you ease into greater freedom of movement and range of motion over time.
Understanding the Beneficial Components of Physiotherapy
To treat chronic pain and help your body function at its best, physiotherapy uses a variety of treatment methods. Each is designed to address a specific issue. Chiropractic medicine does not take a cookie-cutter approach to your health and wellness. Instead, it addresses your specific areas of concern.
When you seek medical care from a chiropractor, they prescribe the treatment or combination of treatments that will best fit your unique-to-you needs. Physiotherapy’s components include:
- Corrective care to address troubling symptoms and manage chronic and lingering pain
- Massage to treat muscle spasms, stiffness, and joint dysfunction with targeted stretching
- Rehabilitation to restore strength and range of motion and produce long-term beneficial results
- Stretching and strength training to remedy tight muscles and provide increased flexibility
- Electrical muscle stimulation (E-STIM) to send targeted electrical pulses to specific muscles and muscle groups
- Ultrasound therapy to treat muscle tissue with gentle sound waves and promote healthy circulation
Working closely with your chiropractor can lead to the right series or combination of treatments that could mean you no longer live with the pain and limitations of sciatica.
What Do We Know About Sciatica?
Sciatica may affect anyone, and certain factors may make it more likely for you to develop it. These factors include:
- Age
- Obesity
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes
Each patient experiences sciatica symptoms differently. Some of them live with constant dull pain. Other people experience sharp pain, similar to an electric shock. For many others, their legs will feel numb or tingly. Sciatica can have even more troubling symptoms, including difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels.
Irrespective of these symptoms, one thing is common for all patients: sciatica negatively impacts their lives, preventing them from performing everyday activities, including simple chores around the house.
How a Herniated Disc Can Lead to Sciatica
A herniated disc is a painful condition that involves one of the discs or cushions along your spine becoming torn and causing a portion of the nucleus to push through the tear. While this is often seen in the lower back, according to Mayo Clinic research, it can occur in any part of the spine. A herniated disc can lead to sciatica if the surrounding nerves are damaged.
Like sciatica, causes of a herniated disc can include being overweight. Additional causes include family history and genetics, smoking, and physically demanding jobs. You do not have to resign yourself to pain caused by either disc herniation or sciatica when help is available. In addition to a herniated disc, other medical conditions that can lead to sciatica include:
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Conus medullas syndrome
- Degenerative disk disease
- Foraminal stenosis
- Injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Pregnancy
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Tumors, cysts, and other growths
At Specific Care Chiropractic, we believe that each person has the right to enjoy life to the fullest, at any age, free of pain. For this reason, we have highly trained and skilled staff, with years of experience in chiropractic care for sciatica.
Understanding How Sciatica Is Diagnosed
Treatment cannot begin without a definitive diagnosis. If you or your doctor believe you are suffering from sciatica, diagnostic methods can include:
- A comprehensive physical exam
- A careful study of your gait and any changes to it
- Your ability to raise your leg while it is straightened
- Flexibility, strength, and range of motion checks
In addition to studying your body and its movements and signals, your healthcare team may also request one or more of the following diagnostic tests:
- X-rays
- CT scans
- MRI scans
- Nerve conduction velocity tests
- Electromyography
- Myelogram
The results will be examined and compared to reach a diagnosis, determine the extent of damage, and begin developing a treatment strategy.
Regain Control Over Your Body With Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
Specific Care Chiropractic is committed to helping people improve their quality of life and live free of pain. All our doctors have extensive experience in creating personalized therapies for patients with sciatica.
Find out more about the benefits of chiropractic care for sciatica. Contact our patient care team at (239) 369-9109 to schedule an appointment in one of our clinics.
