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.
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| 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
