The sciatic nerve runs along the lower back, down the buttocks, and into either leg. This long nerve carries signals along these areas so that you can feel and move your legs. Sciatica occurs when there is a problem with the sciatic nerve, often due to pressure on the nerve. When there is a disturbance to the sciatic nerve, this can cause severe pain within the lower back, hips, buttocks, and legs, usually just in one leg although sometimes it will occur in both. Sometimes this pain feels like an electric shock and other times may feel like a deep ache. Sciatica can also cause the leg or foot to feel numb or weak. If you have sciatica, this musculoskeletal condition can be addressed with chiropractic care to help relieve pain.
Chiropractic Adjustments And Sciatica
What Causes Sciatica?
There are several ways that pressure can be put on the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatica.
- Herniated Disk
Spinal disks have a soft, jellylike center that is surrounded by a rubbery substance. These disks separate the vertebrae in your spine so that they do not rub together and cause pain. But these spinal disks can become herniated or slip out of place. This most commonly occurs in the lower back, and when these disks are in the wrong place, they can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica pain. - Bone Spurs
These are bony projections that develop along the edges of the bones, often in the joints or along the spine. These bone spurs can pinch the spinal cord or its nerve roots, including the sciatic nerve. - Narrowed Spine
If the space inside of the backbone is too small, there isn’t enough room for the nerves, and pressure to the sciatic nerve can occur.. - Muscle Tightening And Spasms
It is possible for sciatica to be triggered by very tight muscles or muscle spasms that interact with and put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
How Is Chiropractic Adjustment Used To Address Sciatica?
There are several chiropractic techniques that can be used to address sciatica pain, including chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve sciatica pain by realigning the spine. This can help herniated disks slip back into place and it can help to relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Other forms of chiropractic care like movement therapy, cold laser therapy, and Active Release Techniques (ART®) can also help to release muscle tension and prevent muscle spasms that may trigger sciatica pain. Chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue manipulation may also be used to help restore regular motion in the lower back, hips, and legs. Your chiropractor will have a discussion with you about your lifestyle, as sciatica can often develop due to a lack of back and core muscles as well as tight muscles. Your chiropractor may recommend some at-home low-impact exercises and stretches to help prevent future sciatica pain.
Sciatica Pain Relief With Chiropractic Care
If you are experiencing sciatica pain, a chiropractor can administer a chiropractic adjustment, suggest at-home preventative measures, and suggest other forms of chiropractic care to help relieve this painful condition. At Performance Health And Wellness, our staff of highly trained and experienced chiropractors will work with you to ease your symptoms, restore movement, and prevent future flare-ups. To speak with a team member at Performance Health And Wellness about your sciatica pain, call 1-949-476-1250 or fill out the online contact form.
FAQ
Chiropractic care is used to address a variety of musculoskeletal issues including nerve pain, muscle pain, tendon inflammation, and more. Chiropractic care can address soft tissue pain in nearly every part of the body and can also be used to aid in recovery from many conditions that you might not expect.
A joint or spinal adjustment usually uses a quick movement to add motion to spinal joints that are not moving correctly. This helps the joints to move correctly again and sometimes slightly changes their position and puts them back into their correct place. An adjustment is not the same thing as when a person “cracks” or “pops” their joints and it is not recommended to try to give yourself a spinal adjustment as it can worsen the joint or cause damage. Only receive adjustments by professional chiropractors.
The sciatic nerve branches out from your lower back, through your hips and buttocks, and down each leg. Symptoms may appear without warning and can last for weeks at a time. Depending on where precisely the sciatic nerve is being affected, sciatica symptoms may present with:
- Persistent pain on one side of your rear or hips
- Lower back or lumbar pain
- Shooting pain through the back of the leg down to the knee or ankle
- Weakness, numbness, burning, or tingling sensations in the leg or foot
- Exacerbated pain when you suddenly sneeze or cough, or sit for long periods of time
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