The Lowdown on Sciatica

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Sciatica is a condition that can occur to people of all ages.  It involves pain, numbness and/or tingling that can radiate down either or both legs.  It can be triggered by a sudden trauma like that caused by an auto accident or it can simply appear without any apparent causative factor.  Sometimes surgery is recommended as a method of correcting this condition.   Before you or someone you know who has sciatica goes under the knife there are some facts you need to consider.

What Causes Sciatica?

There are a number of factors that can induce the condition, including spinal misalignment, hip displacement 

and disc aggravation.  The pain caused by sciatica can last for weeks or it can subside after a few hours.

Bad deadlift form can cause spinal cord injuries like lumbago and sciatica (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Disorders known to cause sciatica include spine subluxations, herniated discs, pregnancy and even diabetes. Caused by a compressed or pinched sciatic nerve, sciatica symptoms can include pain, numbness or tingling that radiate through the buttock, down the back of the thigh, through the calf all the way down to the foot.  As the condition progresses, everything from loss of sensation to muscle weakness and loss in leg function is commonplace.  The longer a sufferer of sciatica goes without treatment, the more likely complications are to occur as the nerve becomes ever more affected.  

How Can You Treat Sciatica?

Since there are a number of disorders that can underlie the condition, the first step is to determine the precise cause.  Diagnosis may include everything from a physical examination to an x-ray, MRI and/or electrodiagnostic testing such as electromyography.  These diagnostic tools are vital to establish the best course of spinal adjustments and other therapies used to treat the condition.

Chiropractic therapy for sciatica can include a number of modalities, including the following:

      ·         Spinal Manipulation which is designed to realign the spine so as to restore the vertebrae to their proper position which in turns helps reduce nerve irritability, muscle spasm, pain and other sciatica symptoms.

      ·         Ultrasound Therapy uses ultrasonic sound waves that are designed to penetrate into tissue to improve circulation and reduce muscle cramping, swelling and stiffness.  These treatments also aid circulation and are painless. 

      ·         TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) relies on a battery-powered muscle stimulation device that delivers imperceptible electrical impulses that are used to control pain and relax the muscles that cause spasms.

      ·         Cold Therapy can also be used to mitigate sciatica symptoms.

      ·         Massage is extremely useful in that it relaxes the muscles and reduces spasms.

When it comes to treating sciatica, pain medication only masks the symptoms.  The best course of treatment is to help the body regain proper balance in order to relieve nerve irritation and allow the body to heal on its own.  Chiropractic care can greatly reduce sciatica symptoms and help many sufferers avoid surgery.   If you or anyone you know suffers from sciatica, contact your local chiropractor to schedule a consultation.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://endyourpain.org or http://chiropractor-jacksonville-fl.com