Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
Sciatica is different from common back pain. With this condition, you might feel pain or uncomfortable nerve sensations that run from your lower back and down one leg, reaching into your calf or foot. Nerve sensations can include numbness, tingling, burning, and muscle weakness. The source of sciatica is nerve compression affecting the sciatic nerve. The key to effective sciatica treatment is to start with an examination. If you are dealing with sciatica, Vaughn Chiropractic in Waterford, MI can help you find that relief.
What Is Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated. This causes shooting pains from the buttocks down the leg. A spinal misalignment can lead to sciatica. This happens when the structures in the hip and lower back compress the sciatic nerve, which leads to irritation and inflammation. Chiropractic adjustments work to properly align the spine by removing compression from the sciatic nerve. In some cases, sciatica is caused by a herniated or slipped disk or narrowing of the spine. Typically, sciatica symptoms will only impact one side of the body.
Besides the shooting pains that occur, sciatica can also cause:
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Reduction in range of motion
- Trouble sitting comfortably
- Numbness in the affected leg
Lower Back-and-Leg Pain Treatments
Our practice examines clients with a variety of neck, back, and back pain issues, including sciatica. When you come to an appointment with our chiropractor, you will receive a thorough examination. If you’re concerned about maybe having sciatica, specific attention will be paid to your back, hips, legs, and feet. Your personal treatment plan will depend on your particular symptoms.
If your sciatica originates in your lower back, your treatment will often include a lower back adjustment and decompression therapy. Adjusting or releasing direct pressure or stress on the nerve provides relief. If sciatic pain is caused in your hip, your treatment might include other therapies to relax muscles around and in the hips. Stretches, deep tissue massage, and other chiropractic care such as acupuncture and cold laser therapy for pain relief are combined to release tension from muscles and connective tissue that may be pinching the nerve.
Maintaining Relief from Sciatica
Sciatica is generally a chronic condition, and may require follow-up appointments. Your follow-up treatment might also include:
- Rehabilitative exercises that you can do at home
- Nutritional counseling to help maintain a healthy weight
- Additional services like X-rays to identify areas of concern
Our team might provide rehabilitative exercises to strengthen the area around the issue. These exercises can be done safely at home to help avoid further occurrences. If there is an area of concern, our practice administers X-rays to identify disc problems, vertebral subluxation, injuries, or degenerative conditions.
Contact Our Chiropractor for Help Managing Sciatica
Our team at Vaughn Chiropractic is ready to help you manage your sciatica. Offering a combination of chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy, our clinic will create a customized plan that works best for you. Give us a call to schedule your first appointment, so you can be on the road to relief.
