Sciatica Treatment
If you are experiencing pain that radiates from the back or buttocks all the way down the legs, you may have a common condition called sciatica. Many people look for a Brookfield chiropractor so they don’t have to suffer with the pain of sciatica, and many never achieve a long term solution. An untreated sciatic condition can continue to worsen and make the daily tasks of living go from difficult to impossible. This article is aimed at helping you to understand sciatica and explains how chiropractic treatment can help you to overcome it.
Sciatic Treatment in Brookfield
Sciatica, which is also known as sciatic neuralgia, is a condition that causes pain in the lower back, down the back of the leg, and into the foot. It can make sitting and standing for long periods of time difficult and can lead to weakness, tingling, and numbness in the leg and foot. It will often come and go throughout a person’s lifetime, causing periods of varying degrees of pain and discomfort. If left unchecked, sciatic pain will generally grow worse and the nerve can become permanently injured.
The reason why the pain travels so far, seems to radiate up and down the legs and back, is because it is caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. This nerve originates in the lumbar spine and extends into the buttocks before traveling down the leg to the ankle and foot. When the vertebrae in the low back are compressed, the roots of the sciatic nerve can become pinched and irritated which is what causes the pain and injury.
How Do You Develop Sciatica?
There are a number of factors that can lead to sciatica. It is most commonly caused by disc injuries and bulges. In this occurrence, the disc presses against the nerve root causing the issue. Disc Injuries can occur because of poor posture, repetitive use injuries, and accidents. Sciatica is also common when there are subluxations (misalignments) in the spine due to postural issues, pregnancy, or trauma. Some patients say they simply bent over to pick up a piece of paper and they were hit with extreme pain. The reality is that the spinal condition was probably developing for quite some time before the triggering incident occurred.
Chiropractic care for Sciatica
Chiropractors in Brookfield are highly trained to zero in on the source of the sciatica and to work with the patient in determining the most suitable approach to treatment. After a thorough assessment of the individual’s unique issue, gentle adjustments are made that will allow the body to recover its natural alignment.
Some people respond very quickly while others take more time to recover. It really depends on the condition of the disc or the joints that the chiropractor has to correct. In most cases, the longer the issue persists, the longer it will take to achieve correction. The great news is that it typically takes less time to fix an issue like this than it took to create it. Once the position of the spine and discs are improved, patients often report improvements to their overall health. If you are experiencing symptoms of sciatica call our team at Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab today.
It only takes a few pounds of pressure in the wrong spot in your lower back to set off an entire barrage of symptoms. When you have fatigue, chronic pain, and numbness all at once, you may find the normal challenges of daily life too much to handle. Sciatica is a common nerve issue that can suddenly flare up when you wake up or bend over to pick up your toddler. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and risks of sciatica to free yourself from the burden of hip and leg pain.
What is Sciatica
When an injury or strain leads to pressure on the sciatic nerve, you will end up diagnosed with sciatica. This nerve usually becomes irritated by a case of compression somewhere in the lumbar region of the spine. While many people mistakenly assume that this term refers to general back pain in that area, there are a range of specific symptoms that help sciatica stand out from other problems of the spine or nerves. Since the sciatic nerve is the longest one in the body, it can cause pain in a surprising range of locations.
Sciatica Symptoms
If you are dealing with irritation in the back alone, you may or may not have sciatica. Call our Brookfield team when experiencing other symptoms like:
- Leg pain that is worse when seated
- Lasting pain in the rear or hips
- Restriction in movement or reduced flexibility
- Stabbing sensations that makes standing difficult
- Irritation that extends from the hip to the foot
- Weakness in the legs
- Symptoms on one side of the body or the other
Cause of Sciatica
Nearly all cases of sciatica involve compression of the nerve as it passes through the lower spine or the hip. Narrowing of openings in this area can seriously affect your legs. A sampling of the causes of sciatica include:
- Spinal stenosis – a conditional that narrows the spinal canal
- Misalignment – When one vertebrae in the back slips over another, the sciatic nerve could be at risk
- Hernaited discs – A bulging spinal disc puts a lot of pressure on nearby nerves
- Bones spurs-rough edges on the vertebra
Sciatica Risks
While some patients develop severe sciatica pain unexpectedly one day, there are a range of behaviors and inherited risk factors that increase the chance that you will experience this condition. Try to eliminate risks like:
- Sedentary lifestyle that involves a lot of sitting and little walking or standing
- Smoking and alcohol abuse
- Playing full contact sports or activities that require repetitive bending or twisting
- Obesity and excess weight
- Failing to stretch and warm up before exercise
- Traumatic injury to the hip, legs, or back
Sciatica Treatment Options
It is possible to avoid and relieve the pain of sciatic nerve compression with some self care. However, you shouldn’t have to skip over your favorite activities just to prevent irritation. Don’t agree to surgery before sampling some of the conservative options we offer at our Brookfield clinic. You can find long lasting relief without turning to surgery by trying our treatments that include:
- Exercise plans that help you build muscle strength without further damage to the nerve
- Recommendations for heat and cold therapy to relieve irritation
- Chiropractic care and massage to eliminate the compression on the nerve
- Safe  Sarapin injections that stop overwhelming pain so other treatments can be applied
Find Solutions for Sciatica
When you enter our conveniently located clinic, you become a part of our family. Your recovery from the pain and limitations of sciatica is our priority. We start with a full suite of tests to determine if any old injuries or recent infections are causing your issues. Once the issue is pinpointed and fully understood, we can start reversing the damage and pressure that is leaving you uncomfortable. No matter what problem lies behind the sciatic pain, Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab can handle it–contact us today!
Call now for a FREE Consultation, (414) 441-5501, or simply contact us by clicking here. Consultations can be done online, via the phone, or in person.
The Initial Visit
When you arrive for your first visit, Dr. Miller or a member of the Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab team will spend time with you collecting your patient history. This information will help your Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab Team know how significant your sciatica problem is and how best to help you. As you get started with a treatment plan for your sciatica, we will most likely give you some at home tips to be aware of. The Team at Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab has a lot of experience with sciatica, but we will also need your participation in your care for the best results.
Feel free to look at our testimonials page to see what others have said about Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab. We’re proud to be part of their health care team. We want to thank you for considering us to help with your sciatica. It does not have to be a life sentence. You don’t have to become another statistic, sciatica is a fixable problem.
Free Sciatica Consultation
If you are suffering from sciatica, Dr. Miller and the team at Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab are ready to help. Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab provides specialized treatment plans for sciatica in Brookfield and can help you understand where your symptoms are coming from and what it will take to improve.
Call (414) 441-5501 today to schedule your free consultation!