While sciatica pain can be debilitating, chiropractic treatment can relieve it gently and naturally. This care entails treating the pain without costly and harmful side effects.
Sciatica-like pain can usually be relieved within four visits or less. During treatment sessions, chiropractors teach basic exercises that you can do at home to stop the symptoms from returning.
In some cases, sciatica symptoms can get better over time without a chiropractor's help. However, because sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis, it's best to seek chiropractic treatment to figure out the underlying cause of your sciatica pain. Also remember that sciatica pain may be intermittent.
The chiropractor treats the person, not the problem causing the pain. The treatment adjusts the spine and joints, so the patient's nerves can be unimpeded and the muscles pull evenly. This realigns the patient's posture and alleviates the pressure on the joints.
For example, if your sciatica is mild and you are looking for ways to relieve the pain and improve range of motion, you should see a physiotherapist. If you have a moderate case of sciatica and want to speed up your recovery, you might want to see a physiotherapist first and then see a chiropractor.
Chiropractic adjustments combined with massage therapy can also relieve sciatica pain by reducing nerve pressure in the lumbar spine. improvimg spinal posture and reducing myofascial trigger points in the piriformis muscle.
Since sciatica is a nerve disorder, involving a neurologist in the diagnosis and treatment of the condition is beneficial. When conservative methods fail to relieve pain symptoms, a patient may be referred to a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon.
Massage therapy can be an important part of your sciatica treatment plan—providing temporary but effective pain relief, stimulating your body to produce natural pain-relieving hormones, and enhancing the body's own healing abilities. A massage can also provide an overall relaxing and enjoyable experience.
The good news about sciatic pain is that it usually goes away on its own with time and some self-care treatments.
You will likely need to see your chiropractor around 3 times per week initially, and then taper off as you feel better. Additionally, maintenance visits are important in order to make sure your body maintains its new alignment and your pain does not return.
Sciatica pain is a delicate condition that only some experts can analyze it. The recommendation is to treat it with a reliable Gilbert acupuncture treatment to lessen the symptoms.
Some people experience side effects for no more than a few days after their visit to a chiropractor. Generally, the soreness shouldn't last more than 24 hours. Use an ice pack or a heating towel to help decrease pain from soreness. If your soreness persists for more than a day or two, you should consult your doctor.
An MRI of the lumbar spine will show many causes of low back pain and sciatica, including disc herniations, facet arthritis, and lumbar spinal stenosis. Digital x-rays and CT scans may also be used to diagnose the cause of sciatica.
Anything that puts more pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause sciatica symptoms to flare up. This includes sitting too much, wearing uncomfortable footwear or too tight pants, sleeping in a wrong position, and being inactive.
On the back – Research shows that many people find relief from pain when sleeping on their back. This can relieve pressure on the low back and sciatic nerve. For best results, elevate the knees by placing one or more pillows beneath them. Make sure the neck is also supported with a pillow.
RP90: This pressure point is located on the lower back, about two inches away from the spine on either side. Applying pressure to this point can help relieve lower back pain and sciatica pain.
The “walk it off” mentality may be popular in some sports disciplines, but patients that suffer from sciatica should avoid pushing through the pain. As a matter of fact, this may lead to more intense pain and additional symptoms, so living in pain is not a good alternative.
In addition to providing hydration, drinking water has the potential to alleviate sciatica, a common source of lower back and leg pain. Drinking water can slow the progression of symptoms and ease discomfort.
The problem is, piriformis syndrome is often mistaken for sciatica. While both conditions interfere with sciatic nerve function, sciatica results from spinal dysfunction such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.
Wrap your fingers around your sides. Using your thumbs, try to apply a firm and steady pressure towards the spine on the outer edges of the muscles. Keep your thumbs around four inches apart. Repeat the technique and apply pressure without causing any discomfort.
Keep this alignment intact by not doing any quick or jerky movements following your adjustment, and not doing any heavy lifting or strenuous activities. Because your body needs to relearn how to be in the correct position, be mindful of your movements for the next day or so.
Chiropractic adjustment is safe when it's performed by someone trained and licensed to deliver chiropractic care. Serious complications associated with chiropractic adjustment are overall rare, but may include: A herniated disk or a worsening of an existing disk herniation.