Can a Chiropractor Help With Sciatica?

You can’t sit down for extended periods of time, maybe at all.

You can’t get out of bed without experiencing pain. 

Your mental and emotional energy is starting to take a toll from this pain.

You aren’t alone.

Unfortunately, Sciatica is an exhausting and common condition that affects upwards of 40% of people. Sciatica is usually caused as a result of Spinal Stenosis (your spine compressing or pinching your nerves) but can also be triggered by bone spurs or a herniated disk. 

You’re likely experiencing a sharp pain that starts in your lower back, travels through your buttock and down your leg. This is because the sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, it starts in your lower back and ends in your foot. So pain as a result of Sciatica can be felt anywhere along this nerve pathway. 

At Core Chiropractic, we understand how debilitating Sciatica can be and its effects on your life. We are here for you and can help you get back to living your life pain-free.

Sciatica Chiropractic Treatment Techniques

The most important thing a chiropractor will do to treat Sciatica is to relieve the pressure from the Sciatic nerve. 

The goal is to restore your lower back, pelvis, and hips’ normal motion. We have a few different ways of achieving this. 

• An Accurate Diagnosis - The most important thing is diagnosing that pain you’re experiencing is in fact from Sciatica. For example, Piriformis Syndrome can often be mistaken for Sciatica. We will conduct a comprehensive assessment based on the reason for your visit. You may be sent for x-rays to ensure we can get to the root of your pain.

• Chiropractic Adjustments - Spinal manipulations will be performed in order to relieve the pressure from your Sciatic nerve. Our adjustment will try to achieve a few things depending on the issue. Either allow a herniated disc to rest back into position, restore misaligned vertebral discs, or free limited spinal movements. 

• Acupuncture - Acupuncture for Sciatica can be an extremely effective treatment method for pain. According to the NCBI, acupuncture “triggers the release of adenosine, which produces a rapidly effective analgesic action on radicular sciatica.” Analgesia is your body’s inability to feel pain.

With the proper diagnosis, along with acupuncture and spinal manipulations, a visit to a chiropractor can help ease the pain and address the issue of Sciatica. 

How Many Treatments For Sciatica With a Chiropractor?

As with any condition, your body’s reaction to Sciatic treatment with chiro will vary from patient to patient. In the best-case scenario, pain can be relieved within 5 visits.

Sciatica ultimately requires a multi-faceted approach. In addition to your periodic chiropractic adjustments, it’s important you take steps at home to treat your Sciatica. 

Proper Exercise - We can discuss an exercise routine that will work best for you and your current health situation. Regular exercise and increasing core stability and back strength can do wonders in helping prevent your lower back pain. 

Stretching - A good stretching routine will also help improve your Sciatica. Focus on stretching hips and hamstring muscles as these muscles can put a lot of pressure on your lower back when they are tight. Give your Piriformis muscle a good stretch as well, as mentioned earlier sometimes a tight Piriformis can be mistaken as Sciatica! 

How You Can Treat Sciatica On Your Own

Here are some more treatment methods you can try on your own.

McGill Big 3 Exercises - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8VFbkSjCsQ

TENS Machine - A tens machine is a great little tool for muscle stimulation. You can control the intensity of the electrical current and use it to address pain and muscle spasms.

Heat & Ice - Whether you want to use a heating pad, a hot pack, or an ice pack, they can all be effective at treating pain from Sciatica. Heat or ice are great for reducing inflammation, just make sure you don't ice for too long! Try 20 minutes at a time.

Warm Epsom Bath - Many people find great relief from sciatic pain by soaking in a warm epsom salt bath. A few reasons for this:

1. Epsom salt bath relaxes your nervous system 
2. The warm water increases circulation and reduces inflammation

Conclusion

Sciatica can be a huge hindrance in your day to day life. If left untreated, it can cause permanent nerve damage which can lead to chronic pain that may not be treatable.

Your best bet is to see a chiropractor. We will assess your condition, and determine if chiropractic treatment is right for you.