Sciatica Chiropractic – Treatments For Sciatic Nerve Pain
Sciatica is a condition caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, the body’s largest nerve that runs from your lower spine through your buttock and down your leg. This condition can cause pain that feels like an electric shock or a burning sensation down your back and the back of your leg.
It can also lead to numbness and weakness in your legs. Over time, if left untreated, sciatica can cause permanent damage to your nerves and muscles, resulting in loss of feeling (sensory loss), or causing muscle weakness, incontinence, or loss of control of a single limb or group of muscles.
Chiropractic treatments for sciatica can include a variety of techniques that balance soft tissues and joints in your body, restoring proper structure and movement, alleviating pressure on the sciatic nerve, and improving your comfort. Chiropractors have a vast understanding of the human body’s musculoskeletal system and know how to design treatment plans that cater to your individual needs.
The main way that a chiropractor treats sciatica is through spinal manipulation or adjustment, which involves using minimal force to move the vertebrae and joints of your spine to restore their original position. This will help take pressure off the sciatic nerve, reducing pain, inflammation, and numbness.
Other sciatica chiropractic techniques that may be used in your treatment plan include therapeutic exercises, ice therapy, hot and cold packs, TENS units, and ultrasound therapy. These treatments are designed to reduce inflammation, improve circulation and elasticity, decrease muscle spasms, and speed up healing of the nerves in your legs.