That’s the question thousands of people are asking on Google. And for good reason: sciatica, pain that radiates down the sciatic nerve through the lower back, glute muscles, and lower legs, can be quite painful and bothersome. It’s quite common as well: 40 percent of people will likely get it during their lifetime and the likelihood of suffering from it rises with age.
But can chiropractic care help ease that pain from the sciatic nerve? Yes it can.
Causes of Sciatica
The Mayo Clinic says that sciatica happens “when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched, usually by a herniated disk in your spine or by an overgrowth of bone (bone spur) on your vertebrae.”
As you age, herniated disks become more common, which can cause sciatica. Other factors that increase your risk of suffering from this type of pain are:
- Obesity, which places stress on the spine,
- A job that requires you to lift heavy loads and constantly twist your back.
- A job that requires prolonged periods of sitting, and
- Diabetes because blood sugar can increase risk of nerve damage.
Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
Chiropractic care is ideal for sciatica because this type of treatment directly addresses the points that often cause the pain down your lower back and legs. A good chiropractor will have been trained on musculoskeletal concerns and be able to identify the root cause of sciatica and put together a specific, non-invasive individual treatment plan to obtain relief for patients – all without the use of medication.
Through manual adjustments targeting the specific area of where the pain is radiating from, chiropractic treatment is an excellent way of minimizing sciatica pain and relieving pressure on the nerve. One study on manual adjustments on people with sciatica showed a significant improvement in the decrease in pain for the patient.
Along with adjustments, the patient will be given a series of stretches and exercises to do at home to strengthen areas of the spine and help achieve faster, and long-lasting, pain relief.
Holistically Moving Forward Without Lower Back Pain
Lower back and neck pain is one of the most costly types of healthcare in the United States, landing third on the list of the most expensive types of healthcare at $87.6 billion a year, as estimated by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Through the use of non-invasive chiropractic care for sciatica, patients with lower back and leg pain can not only save money in the long-term but also learn how to better care for their bodies that may be prone to sciatica and experience excellent chiropractic treatments that benefits their entire body. Chiropractic care is a holistic endeavor simply because the body works together to achieve optimal performance. If something is out of alignment, it affects the entire body in some way, usually through pain. Through chiropractic care of sciatica using adjustments and exercises, the whole body benefits.
Ready to be free of the pain of sciatica
If you want to see what we can do for your sciatica, call us at 864.631.1420 to make an appointment for a consultation. Every patient is different and we recognize they all need different, individualized treatment plans. We can’t wait to meet you and help you achieve a pain-free life.