First off what is sciatic pain or sciatica?
Sciatica is a general term that is used by many to describe symptoms that refer or radiate down the leg or legs. The symptoms can feel like numbness, Tingling, burning, and electrical.
What causes sciatic pain?
The top causes of true sciatic pain are disc herniations, bone spurs, and spondylolisthesis. There are conditions that can mimic sciatic pain such as piriformis syndrome and sacroiliac joint dysfunctions that can refer pain in similar patterns.
How is it treated?
Chiropractic care is a great non-surgical avenue to pursue to alleviate sciatic pain and low back pain in general. As musculoskeletal specialists, chiropractors have great results with treating this type of conditions. Through the use of chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy or muscle work, and therapeutic exercises we are able to greatly reduce and in most cases eliminate the symptoms.
Acupuncture is another great option that is used to treat sciatic pain. The goal with acupuncture is to calm the central nervous system as well and release tension in the muscles surrounding the spine. Acupuncturists seek to balance the flow of energy pathways in the body through pathways called meridians and reduce inflammation which is can aggravate many conditions.
Physical therapy is helps to reduce pain through specific exercises to stabilize the spine and increase function. Here in the office we use rehabilitation exercises to help fix the issues so you can get back to having fun. If we do not have the tools to get you better we have the contacts that do.
Steroid injections can be beneficial for short term reduction in pain when it comes to sciatic pain. This can be expensive and is not a good long term option as their are increased risks associated with multiple injections with steroids.
Activity modification is another way to reduce pain as well as stay out of pain. In modern day society in general we do not move as much as we should. making simple changes throughout our day can make huge differences. research suggests that we should be taking micro breaks through our day so that we are not in one position too long. This can be as simple as standing up and walking around our desk at work or shifting the hips side to side and forward and back while driving in the car.
Here at Vector Spine and Sport we like to help you fix the issues that arise as you go through your life. As with many things in life it’s usually not just one thing that causes or solves the problems, it’s a combination of things. That is why we listen to what you say, since you know your body better than anyone else.
If you are curious if Chiropractic care or any of the other options are a good fit for you, please contact us, we are your local Millcreek chiropractor.
