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Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica: Does It Help with the Pain?

Sciatica pain can be debilitating. The sciatic nerve, which starts in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg, can become irritated, especially if you spend long periods of the day sitting without breaks. One of the questions that I hear a lot is, “can chiropractic treatment for sciatica help to stop the pain?”

While I can’t make any guarantees, I can speak from experience to tell you that I have seen it help many people find relief from the pain and discomfort.

If your job causes you to develop sciatica, you could be entitled to compensation and benefits, but the most important thing to do is to find relief from the pain. Below you will learn some of the symptoms and causes of sciatica as well as how chiropractic treatment for sciatica works.

The Symptoms

Perhaps the most common symptom of sciatica is pain in the lower back that extends down the back of the leg, sometimes as far as the feet. The pain usually only affects one side of the body and can grow worse when sitting. The symptoms can last for days or weeks without relief. Other symptoms include the following:

• A burning or tingling sensation in the hips or legs
• Constant pain in the buttocks
• Shooting pain that makes standing difficult
• Weakness or numbness in the leg that makes it hard to move the leg or foot

Many people experience these symptoms after specific triggers, such as sitting at a desk without a break for a long time, which can cause compression of the sciatic nerve.

Causes

How does the sciatic nerve become compressed? There are many underlying causes that can trigger nerve compression and sciatica pain. For instance, degenerative disc disease can cause the spine to press against the nerve. Another condition that can cause sciatica is Spondylolisthesis, which occurs when one vertebra slips over another.

Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal at the base of the spine, can also cause nerve compression. Additionally, excess weight, pregnancy, sleeping on a soft mattress, and lack of exercise can cause sciatica.

Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica

The first step in the treatment of sciatica is getting a diagnosis. If you think you have sciatica, a chiropractor can examine you to determine whether it is the cause of your pain. Because sciatica can grow worse over time and even lead to paralysis of the muscles governed by the sciatic nerve, it’s critical to talk to a chiropractor if you have the above symptoms.

Once your chiropractor diagnoses you, they may choose a few different ways to treat the pain and the underlying condition that is causing it. Chiropractic treatment for sciatica may include cold therapy, ultrasound, and chiropractic adjustment.

Contact the Miami Back and Neck Pain Center for Relief!

If you have sciatica and want to find some relief from the pain, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with us today. Our Neck and Back Rejuvenation System uses the latest therapy equipment and evidence-based medicine to help you stop the pain.