Relieving Sciatica: How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Have you been spending more and more energy on finding ways to stay comfortable while dealing with Sciatica? If you’re starting to avoid your favorite activities and stressed you’re missing out on what life has to offer, rest assured you are not alone. First you may be asking, what is Sciatica? Even more importantly, what can you do to keep the pain under control and start to feel like yourself again? Finding the root cause of your Sciatica and taking advantage of conservative care through Chiropractic is key. A proper diagnosis and personalized Chiropractic care can help you gain back control without the need for medications or surgical procedures. 

What is Sciatica? 

Sciatica is a term that has been classically used to describe pain that shoots down the leg, without any particular diagnosis. Medically speaking, sciatica refers to irritation of the sciatic nerve, which exits the spine from the lower back, travels through the hip, and continues down the back of the leg. The sciatic nerve sends and receives signals that help muscles in your hips and legs to activate and is responsible for sensation in the back of the leg. Sciatica or Sciatic nerve pain refers to pain, or other types of symptoms known as paresthesias (aching, burning, numbness, and tingling) along the sciatic nerve. As these symptoms are felt along the back of the leg, sciatica can make walking and bending forward particularly difficult.

What’s Causing My Sciatica? 

Now that you have an understanding of what sciatica is, you’re probably asking, what causes sciatic nerve pain? Simply put, the pain is due to irritation or an issue with the sciatic nerve. Pain is the brain’s way of letting you know that something is wrong! Irritation to the sciatic nerve can be caused by a variety of things, but generally can be boiled down into two categories; compression or inflammation. Inflammation often gets a bad wrap, but it is actually the body's way of healing itself. Your nerve can become inflamed from something minor like a muscle strain in the area that leads to inflammation around the nerve, to more severe causes like infection or autoimmune diseases. Compression can be the culprit when it comes to sciatica as well. Your sciatic nerve can become irritated when something is pushing or pressing on it chronically. Whether it’s tight muscles, or sitting on a hard chair for hours on end, nerves do not like when they experience increased pressure. Here are some specific examples of causes of irritation to the sciatic nerve:

• Piriformis syndrome- Occurs when a muscle called the piriformis in the hip has increased tension, which compresses the sciatic nerve and causes irritation. 

  
  

• Herniated discs- Also known as ‘slipped disc,’ a disc herniation occurs when the center of the disc in between your vertebrae pushes through a weak part of the disc. This is a low back condition that puts pressure on the nerves in the back that make up the sciatic nerve. 

  
  

• Spinal stenosis- Characteristically in this condition, the spinal canal is narrowed which leads to increased pressure on nerve roots in the spinal cord, which eventually supply information to the sciatic nerve. 

  
  

• Pregnancy- Changes from pregnancy can also lead to sciatic nerve irritation. Hormonal changes, a shifting center of gravity and the growing uterus all can play a role in irritating the sciatic nerve and causing pain and discomfort. 

  
  

• Injury or trauma- A direct injury to the sciatic nerve can also cause sciatic nerve pain as well. Anything from a bad fall to an injury while playing sports has the potential to irritate the sciatic nerve.

As you can see, sciatica can be caused by several different factors, and it’s imperative you speak with a professional to determine the reason for your pain, and how to best address the issue to get you the relief you deserve. 

Managing Sciatic Nerve Pain With Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care for sciatic nerve pain can help you get back to doing what you love. There are a variety of treatments that can help decrease your pain and discomfort and improve your function. Some treatments that are typically used to address sciatic nerve pain:

• Manual adjustments- Spinal manipulation helps to improve joint motion and can alleviate pressure on nerves by decreasing muscular tension, which allows them to function optimally. 

  
  

• Soft Tissue Therapy- Whether it’s myofascial release, targeted stretching or therapeutic massage, chiropractors use a variety of hands-on techniques to help decrease muscle tension and improve circulation; both of which can support healing and decrease discomfort. 

  
  

• Holistic Care Approach- Working with a chiropractor allows you to take a holistic and multifactorial approach. Chiropractors make sure to consider all aspects of your life when creating a personalized care plan.

Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica Pain

Whether you're dealing with a persistent and annoying tingle in the back of your thigh or sharp, radiating pain that won’t let up, finding lasting relief is likely your top priority. At Thryve Chiropractic we take a holistic approach by combining different treatment modalities through a personalized care plan. This allows us to address the root cause of the issue — and give you meaningful, long-term results.

Chiropractic care goes beyond just relieving pain. It not only helps improve the function of your body, but by addressing the root cause of your sciatic nerve pain, it supports your body’s natural healing process — reducing the need for invasive procedures like surgery or relying on medications that only mask the symptoms.

If you're ready to take control of your sciatica and start feeling better, chiropractic care with Thryve Chiropractic could be the solution you've been searching for! Schedule your free discovery visit here to learn how our unique approach can benefit you!