Conditions
Sciatica
Do you have nerve pain in your lower back and legs? It might be sciatic pain. The sciatic nerve is the most frequently injured area of the spine. The sciatic nerves begin in the low back and are the largest nevers in the entire body. When they become irritated it can cause severe pain in the low back and radiate down into the legs.
What Commonly Causes Sciatica?
Spinal Joint Misalignment
The most common cause of sciatica is misalignment and malfunction of the spinal joints that leads to muscle spasms and inflammation of surrounding tissues and nerve roots. Formally referred to as the Vertebral Subluxation Complex, it can add unwanted pressure to the sciatic nerve and result in pain.
Bulging or Herniated Discs
People who suffer from bulging or herniated discs often have associated sciatic nerve pain. When your bulging or herniated disc presses on the nearby nerve roots, you can experience pain in the low back, buttocks, down the leg, and even into the foot.
Tight or Strained Muscles
Another cause of Sciatica is when surrounding muscle tissue becomes tight and strained. Those muscles can impede the normal conduction of the sciatic nerve, causing nerve pain. We often look to muscles in the buttock and in the back of the legs as the source of the impingement.
How Sciatica Impacts Your Life
Lack Of Sleep Causes Many Problems
Sciatica pain can be debilitating. The most common impact we see in our patients is the inability to sleep deeply and consistently. Often, patients are unable to straighten their legs completely and this leads to poor sleeping posture and an increase in pain.
Over time, this can cause other spinal issues that compound your pain. We encourage patients to come to us as soon as possible to get relief from sciatica and prevent additional problems.
Walking Issues Create More Problems
When you are suffering from sciatica, even the simple act of walking becomes a strenuous task. Sciatica often causes pain to radiate down your leg and into your foot, making you unable to put even a normal amount of pressure on that leg. This will change the way you walk and can lead to even further dysfunction the longer you wait for treatment.
Missed Work & Emotional Impacts
Sciatica is the most common symptom accompanying low back pain, and low back pain is the most common cause of missed work in the United States. Missing work due to sciatic nerve pain accounts for millions of dollars lost each year and can put serious financial and emotional strain on you and those around you. The best course of action is seeking help to relieve your pain and its impacts on your life as soon as possible.
Ready for Relief?
Our Chiropractic team in Springfield Missouri is here to help you get back to the life you love.
Our Treatments for Sciatica
Spinal Manipulation
The most common cause of Sciatica is dysfunction in the joints of the low back. After a thorough assessment, we can determine the source of the problem. We use spinal manipulation to restore normal function to the affected area. Restoring proper nerve flow eliminates pain at the source. Not only does this result in faster pain relief, but it also provides long lasting relief that reduces the risk of further injury.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is one of the most effective and efficient solutions to Sciatica. Massage therapy eliminates the tight and swollen muscle fibers surrounding the sciatic nerve, leading to faster healing times and better overall function of the low back and legs.
Electric Muscle Stimulation
We use electric muscle stimulation for almost every patient that suffers with Sciatica. Electric muscle stimulation helps reduce muscle spasms by reducing inflammation and swelling in the surrounding tissues. It also helps increase blood flow to the area, which will speed up the healing process and bring relief faster.
Get Your Life Back
Our team at 417 Spine is committed to your well-being and we share one common goal. Long-term relief. Call us today and move one step closer to health that comes naturally.
Related Conditions
Low Back Pain
Hip & SI Joint Pain
