Some medical conditions are mainstream words, things we know and speak about a lot, but we often don’t really know that much about what causes them and the symptom range associated with them, other than the fact they hurt and they are a problem in our lives. Back pain is a big talking point, and one of the branches of that is sciatica.
Everyone has heard of sciatica, but few really understand what it means, and indeed what causes it.
Put simply, sciatica is associated with the sciatic nerve, the single largest nerve in the entire human body, running from the spine, right down to the foot, and it connects muscles to the spine, in order to instruct them to work appropriately when our brain sends signals to do so. When any compression, pinching, or pressing on this nerve occurs, you get sciatica, which is a pain in the lower back, which runs down the leg – effectively down the length of the nerve.
Of course, there are other symptoms that can be related to this, such as pins and needles, numbness, muscle weakness, a sensation of burning, aching, and tingling. These symptoms can be relieved with rest and sometimes with pain killers, but it’s important to understand what is causing the symptoms first, before throwing pain relief at them and hoping it will go away.
The cause of sciatica is usually an injury, or can be simply wear and tear, and this varies from person to person, much like the severity of the symptoms. A lumbar disc herniation which presses on the sciatic nerve is a common cause, as well as a slipped disc, or a spinal subluxation, but whatever the cause in the end, it’s important to pin-point it early on, so appropriate treatment can be administered.
Chiropractic is a very common and very effective treatment method for sciatica, after first being examined and diagnosed with the problem. Conservative measures are very effective for this troublesome issue, and this is exactly what chiropractic is – treatment without the need for surgery or powerful drugs. Gentle spinal manipulation and deep tissue massage works well when combined with exercises done at home, posture control, and general lifestyle changes, without drastically resorting to a surgeon’s knife.
Those undergoing chiropractic treatment often notice a difference in their symptoms very quickly, which proves that this is a fast-acting treatment for sciatica problems. Correcting misplaced vertebrae and removing pressure on the nerve can be all it takes to reduce pain in the area.
Too many people put up with sciatica pain and just put it down to something they are used to, when there really is no need to live with it. Call the practice now on 03 9095 7990 to arrange an appointment if you have had recurrent problems with sciatica. Realising what the real problem at hand is will mean a more targeted approach to treatment, faster recovery, and a brighter future, free of the distressing and sometimes intense pain of sciatica.
