If you’ve ever had lower back pain that affected the lower half of your body then you might know the feeling of sciatica. Sciatica is actually a term used to describe a specific type of pain when your sciatic nerve is pinched, compressed, or otherwise injured. Your sciatic nerve is located in your lower back and it is possible to develop sciatica for a variety of reasons. Those who sit or stand for long periods of time on the job might develop sciatica. It is also possible to experience sciatica after a traumatic event like a car accident. The great news is that your Tucker chiropractor can help treat your sciatica so you can get back to being pain-free.
Diagnosing Your Sciatica
When your sciatic nerve is aggravated, it can send uncomfortable pain signals from your lower back through your buttocks and into the back of your legs. Many people who experience sciatica report only experiencing this type of pain on one side of their body. A lower back injury may lead to inflammation, which can put pressure on the sciatic nerve. A herniated disc in your lower back could also compress the sciatic nerve, causing this experience of sciatica pain.
People who are dealing with sciatica often report symptoms that include tingling, numbness, and pain in the lower back, buttocks, and back of the leg. Sometimes the pain can seem like a stabbing pain that shoots down through the buttocks and leg, while other times it may seem more like a dull throb. Often times, certain movements can make these painful, uncomfortable symptoms worse. When you visit your Tucker chiropractor, it is helpful to identify the severity of your pain and when it most often occurs so they can get a better idea of what is causing your sciatica.
Chiropractic Treatment for Your Sciatica
While it is possible for sciatica to go away on its own after a day or two, it is likely that the pain will come back unless the root cause of your sciatica is addressed. You an consider a chiropractic treatment for your sciatica. Chiropractors focus on treating the root cause of your pain by identifying what exactly is causing these symptoms of pain, tingling, and numbness. Your Tucker chiropractor will use gentle chiropractic techniques like adjustments to identify any misalignments in your spine, especially in your lower back. Poor posture can actually lead to sciatica, and sometimes a few chiropractic adjustments and practicing better posture can help resolve your pain.
Misalignments in the spine can occur from poor posture, pressure from standing or sitting for long periods of time, or injury. When one of your vertebrae or the discs that separate them are out of place, they can put too much pressure on your sciatic nerve. This is sometimes called a pinched nerve when you can tell your pain has to do with a nerve because you feel tingling and numbness. By realigning your spine to its proper position, your chiropractor will help relieve the sciatic nerve from these pressures, allowing it to function properly. Your chiropractor may also use gentle stretching and therapeutic massage techniques to help restore proper functioning and relieve nerve compression.
Specialist Treatment for Your Sciatica
In some cases of severe sciatica, your chiropractor or primary care doctor may recommend you see a specialist for additional treatment and support. Neurologists specialize in injury or issues related to the nervous system, and they can help provide more aggressive approaches to your treatment. A neurologist can run diagnostic imaging tests and neurological tests to determine what is compressing the nerve and how the nerve is responding to signals. In rare cases, when other forms of treatment have not been fully successful, they may also recommend surgical intervention. If you develop sciatica after an accident or injury, physical therapists can also help you on your road to recovery. Physical therapists can provide you with treatment approaches that help strengthen your muscles and manage your pain as you transition back into your regular routines.
At AICA Orthopedics in Tucker, our team of chiropractors, neurologists, orthopedists, and physical therapists work together to provide you with the most comprehensive care in the metro area. You can start with a more conservative treatment approach to your sciatica with one of our Tucker chiropractors, and even meet with neurologists, physical therapists, or other members of our medical team as necessary to make sure you are experiencing full healing and relief from your sciatica.