Cape Coral Sciatica Treatment

Many people develop sciatica as a subsequent injury to a lumbar disk herniation (herniated disk in the lower back). This injury involves nerve pain that runs down a person’s leg, including the hips and buttocks, which follow the sciatic nerve track. Also, the lumbar area of the spinal cord affects nerve function in this part of the body. That being said, sciatica can also develop as a result of other health issues, like diabetes.

If you or a loved one suffers from sciatic pain, our chiropractors at Specific Care Chiropractic want to relieve your pain symptoms and treat the afflicted area. We offer Cape Coral sciatica treatment that allows patients to regain mobility in their legs so that they can return to their regular activities.

Sciatica Be the Result of a Herniated Disk or Other Lifestyle and Health Factors

You may have heard the term “pinched nerve,” which is a common name for sciatica, as it describes the sudden, sharp pain people feel when flare-ups occur. Still, how does this injury develop—and is it always an “injury” or a health condition?

a woman suffering Sciatica and needs Cape Coral Sciatica Treatment

In some cases, if a person suffers a herniated disk injury, they may develop sciatica if nerve damage occurs around the herniation. For example, if you worked in construction and developed a herniated disk in your lower back and then continued to work with this injury, you might aggravate the injury and cause nerve damage. You might then feel pain along one side of your body, usually down one of your legs. This is sciatica.

Still, other lifestyle and health factors can lead to sciatic pain, such as:

  • Being overweight
  • Having diabetes
  • Getting older and being more prone to injuries and bone degradation
  • Having an inactive lifestyle
  • Working at a job that requires you to sit down for long periods

What to Expect During Your First Sciatica Pain Appointment

If you have never received chiropractic treatment before, then you might not know what to expect in your first appointment. Some people are intimidated by chiropractic medicine, so our first objective is to have you feel as relaxed as possible. You likely will not receive chiropractic treatment on your first appointment because we must first examine the severity of your injury.

Sciatica Pain Appointment at Cape Coral

First, You’ll Answer a Series of Questions

Your first appointment will act as a consultation between you and the physician. You’ll have to fill out a questionnaire, which one of our physicians will read over and ask follow-up questions for clarification.

If another medical professional diagnosed you with sciatica, we may ask more about your symptoms, such as:

  • Where do you feel pain (e.g., down your leg, in your hips, etc.)?
  • Do you often feel numbness, or are you surprised by a sudden sharp pain (or both)?
  • Are you experiencing any muscle weakness around the afflicted area, and does that limit your ability to walk, bend, get up, etc.?
  • Do you get a tingling feeling followed by discomfort or nerve pain in the afflicted area?
  • Have you also suffered a herniated disk injury? If so, where?
  • Have you received surgical treatment for your injury, or are you considering it?

Your answers will shape the trajectory of your treatment plan. If you experience other symptoms or flare-ups during your treatment in later appointments, make sure to tell your physician.

Next, You’ll Undergo a Physical Examination

Once the physician has a general idea of your sciatica’s severity level, they’ll then give you a physical examination to see if other underlying factors may be causing you discomfort or pain. They will also check your vitals in case other abnormalities exist.

Depending on what you report, they may request X-ray images of the afflicted area or other imaging exam results so that they can get a closer look at your injury. These images may alert the chiropractor of any spinal manipulation they must perform or if they should only focus on the afflicted area.

Doctor writing Sciatica on clipboard Cape Coral Sciatica treatment

Our Sciatica Treatment Involves Chiropractic Adjustment and Physiotherapy

At Specific Care Chiropractic, our physicians are licensed and trained to perform chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy. Treatment plans for sciatica can vary based on where the patient experiences pain, whether other injuries are present, and other health conditions the patient might have.

Still, some treatments we offer for sciatica include:

You can learn more about the treatments you’ll receive during your appointment and after our physician examines your injury.

Studies Found Chiropractic Care Can Treat Sciatic Pain in Patients

The following studies have reported on the efficacy of chiropractic care on patients with sciatica:

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

The Journal highlighted a study that found 60 percent of participants who had sciatica as a secondary injury to lumbar disk herniation (a herniated disk in the lower back) benefited from spinal manipulation when other medical treatments failed.

The Spine Journal

Official Journal of the North American Spine Society reported on a study that found people with sciatic pain could relieve their pain through active chiropractic manipulations. Patients who received treatment sessions for longer periods also reported feeling fewer days of pain during and after treatment.

BJGP Open and The BMJ

Both reported studies on the efficacy of physiotherapy as a sciatica treatment and found that active engagement in physical therapies can help patients restore mobility, relieve nerve pain, and reduce stiffness in the body. Patients are encouraged to undergo supervised exercise regimens to improve their spinal health. Exercises could involve weightlifting and stretching.

Our facility practices evidence-based chiropractic care on patients because we want people to feel comfortable with the treatment they receive. If you have questions about the techniques we use, we are more than happy to explain further.

Contact Us to Discuss Your Cape Coral Sciatica Treatment Plan

If you or a loved one experiences sciatic pain or developed sciatica after suffering a herniated disk injury, you do not have to live with pain and discomfort. Our physicians at Specific Care Chiropractic can examine your condition and build a treatment plan that reduces your pain symptoms and restores mobility in your body. Chiropractic treatment can also be a great supplement to surgical treatment should you decide to go that route.

Call (239) 369-9109 today to schedule your appointment at our Cape Coral location. Our office is right along Del Prado Boulevard near the Cape Coral Hospital.