Tired of living with sciatica? Dr. Suzanne Davis at Davis Chiropractic in Decatur, IL, is here to help you achieve natural and lasting relief.
Guide to Sciatica: Explanation, Causes, and Treatment
Sciatica is one of many conditions that chiropractors can help to relieve – and it’s one that many people have heard of. But what exactly is this debilitating issue? What causes it? And how can a chiropractor help? Dr. Davis and the team at Davis Chiropractic in Decatur, IL, answer these questions and more in the guide below about sciatica.
What Is Sciatica, Really?
Sciatica is often grouped with injuries, but it’s not actually an injury itself. Instead, it is the name of a group of symptoms caused by the sciatic nerve becoming pinched or compressed.
The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body, running from the lower back to the foot. At the lower back, the nerve branches off in two directions to travel down both the right and left sides.
When this nerve becomes compressed – usually by a herniated disc – it creates many symptoms. These include tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and mild to severe pain.
The pain can be anything from a dull ache to a sharp shooting pain. Some people feel it as more of a burning sensation. And the symptoms can show up anywhere along the path the nerve travels – from the lower back to the feet.
What Causes Sciatica?
In short, anything that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause these symptoms. As mentioned above, it’s usually a herniated disc, as the inner filling spills out onto the nerve. However, it can also be the result of muscle tension, muscle imbalance, degenerative disc disease, misalignment, and more.
Typically, these causes of sciatica are due to one or more of the following factors:
- Poor posture
- Accidents
- Being overly active
- Being sedentary
- Repetitive motion or heavy lifting
- Aging
How Can a Chiropractor Help
The first step is determining whether sciatica is the cause of your symptoms. After an accurate diagnosis, a treatment plan can be developed.
Finding true and lasting relief from sciatica requires taking pressure off the sciatic nerve. However, how this is done depends specifically on the individual as the cause and contributing factors can vary. Generally, treatment includes restoring alignment to the spine through adjustments and traction, using ultrasound therapy to address soft tissues and relieve pain, adjusting lifestyle factors that have played a role, and more.
Learn more about sciatica relief by visiting Dr. Davis at Davis Chiropractic in Decatur, IL, by calling (217) 877-2704 to schedule an appointment.