At Pure Health Medical, we first need to find out exactly what is causing your pain to cure sciatica. That’s why step one is to perform an experienced thorough examination with our patients. Let’s explain some important information so you can find a solution to your aches or pains.
What exactly is SCIATICA?
In order to cure sciatica, you must first know what it is. Sciatica is the term often given to any person with any pain that is in their leg, whether it stays in their hip, goes down to their knee or all the way down to the foot. Sometimes this is the correct diagnosis, but often it is not. Sciatica is actually irritation to the sciatic nerve or it’s contributing nerve roots. This can happen in the low back from a disc bulge or in the hip from a tight muscle (called the Piriformis) which will “clamp” down on the nerve as it runs underneath it.
Potential causes of SCIATICA
The potential causes of sciatica include: disc bulges, piriformis syndrome, “pseudo-sciatica” and cauda equina syndrome. Disc bulges are probably the easiest to understand as it is the most common reason sciatica is found. The center of the disc can work its way toward the outside of the disc causing what is called a bulge; this can happen either in one instant (such as lifting something very heavy) or over time from poor posture and lack of quality movement. Piriformis syndrome is when the piriformis muscle itself becomes tight causing an increase in pressure on the sciatic nerve itself, resulting in pain down the leg. “Pseudo-sciatica” is a term used to describe the same path of pain down someone’s leg that is actually being caused by a knot or trigger point in a muscle on the side of the hip (the gluteus minimus).
Why does my SCIATICA keep coming back?
Often times, people try to use a chemical approach to a physical problem, which does not make a whole lot of sense and ends up being ineffective. In the context of sciatica, there is physical pressure on the nerve somewhere along its path that needs to be relieved and using an over-the-counter medication to chemically change the symptom does not usually work, since the actual problem is not actually being addressed.
SCIATICA relief using chiropractic?
Since the nerve roots for the sciatic nerve originate in the low back, Chiropractors can help a disc bulge in the low back heal, alleviating pressure off the nerve roots resulting in less pain and better function! Chiropractors can use adjustments, soft tissue techniques, modalities, and specific exercises to help alleviate sciatic pain and improve movement quality. This method helps address both the symptom and the cause. Here at Pure Health Medical, we offer many kinds of modalities (like ultrasound) which helps reduce inflammation and aid in the natural healing process. Electric Stimulation can be used to relax muscles in spasm that often present with a disc bulge, and Decompression is helpful to increase space for the disc so that more oxygen and nutrient carrying blood can get to the injured tissue to allow for quicker healing.
How can chiropractic treat SCIATICA?
Chiropractors can treat sciatica with many different tools including adjustments, soft tissue techniques, exercises, decompression, and other therapeutic modalities. The treatment would depend on what the physician determines to be the cause of your sciatic pain. As stated earlier, there are multiple potential causes of sciatica, each requiring a different style of treatment. Luckily, here at Pure Health Medical, we offer all these options so whatever is needed to help alleviate your pain – we’ve got your back!