Sciatica is a condition centered in the lower back, usually on one side, that causes pain to radiate along the sciatic nerve and down the leg. Here at Apollo Chiropractic of Salt Lake City, we treat many patients with sciatica, helping to relieve this painful and sometimes even debilitating condition.
Origins of Sciatic Back Pain
Sciatica is different from many other types of back pain because it’s rooted in the central nervous system. For this reason, the pain is often accompanied by numbness and tingling.
In order for the sciatic nerve to trigger pain, it must be impinged. It’s important to determine specifically what is impinging this nerve in order to administer proper treatment.
The Mayo Clinic lists common allopathic treatments for sciatica, which include prescribing anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, narcotics and anti-depressants, some of which can be addictive and even deadly. Plus, they exert little effect on the cause of the pain, regardless of what it is. The Cleveland Clinic recommends chiropractic therapy to treat sciatica.
Our chiropractors use a number of different techniques to treat sciatica, depending on its cause.
Chiropractic Services for Sciatica
While back pain can result from a variety of causes, many of them are due to poor body mechanics, extended periods of sitting, muscle weakness and tension.
When a knot forms in the muscles, this knot can sometimes press on the sciatic nerve, sending shooting pain from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. Deep tissue massage helps to loosen and smooth knots in muscles, and it also helps to reduce inflammation.
Another technique that can improve sciatic nerve pain is chiropractic stretching. With regular practice, stretching lengthens your muscles and improves flexibility. This takes pressure off the joints and — you guessed it! — the sciatic nerve.
Issues with the spine can be another cause of sciatica. These include herniated discs, spinal stenosis and improper spinal alignment. If we believe any of these is the cause of your sciatica, we may perform a spinal manipulation.
As part of your treatment, we also spend time talking to you about your daily habits. We observe your walking and sitting patterns as well, and then we give you advice for keeping sciatic pain at bay. We may prescribe exercises for you to do at home to strengthen your back muscles to help prevent further issues.
Chiropractic Therapy for Sciatica
If you suffer from back pain — whether it’s rooted in the sciatic nerve, the spine, the muscles or another part of your body, make an appointment with the chiropractors at Apollo Chiropractic in Salt Lake City. We will determine the source of your pain and treat it — without dangerous drugs or unnecessary surgery.