Role of Chiropractic Care in Managing Sciatica Pain Sciatica pain occurs due to compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. This article discusses the role of chiropractic treatment in managing sciatica pain.
Sciatica pain is caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve, which branches from the lower back area through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically affecting only one side of your body, this nerve condition normally occurs when a herniated disk, or bone spur on the spine compresses part of the nerve, causing severe pain, inflammation and often numbness in the affected leg. It is estimated that up to 40 percent of people will experience sciatica at least once in their lifetime. Leading multispecialty healthcare centers in Brooklyn, NYC provide several effective pain management treatment modalities to alleviate pain and enhance mobility and the quality of life of people. Chiropractic care is one such important and effective treatment option for managing sciatica pain. Reports suggest that an estimated 90 percent of cases are due to herniated (slipped) disc. Some of the other disorders that cause this nerve condition include - spinal stenosis, tumors within the spine, spondylolisthesis, pelvic injury or fracture, piriformis syndrome and other injuries/infections affecting the spine.
What Are the Symptoms? Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttocks and down the back of your leg is the characteristic symptom of sciatica. The pain starts as a mild tingling or burning sensation and can progress to severe and debilitating pain. Other symptoms include -
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Numbness in the leg along the nerve
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Weakness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
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Hip pain
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Burning or tingling sensation (pins and needles) in the feet and toes
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A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
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A constant pain on one side of the rear
Need for Early Diagnosis of Sciatica Since there are many disorders that cause sciatica, one of the initial steps to be followed by a chiropractor is to determine the exact factors that may be causing sciatica pain. Forming a diagnosis involves careful review of the patient’s medical history, and a detailed physical and neurological examination. They will conduct a physical examination of the back, legs and hips to check muscle strength, flexibility and reflexes. Several diagnostic imaging tests such as X-ray, MRI scan, CT scan and/or electrodiagnostic tests (nerve conduction velocity, electromyography) will be conducted to detect possible contraindications to spinal adjustments and other chiropractic therapies.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help Those with Sciatica? Chiropractic care can be a great way to manage and relieve sciatica pain. Chiropractic treatment is based on the principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain and reduced function. The treatment method helps the body to heal by itself with non-invasive (non-surgical), drug free treatment. Chiropractors deliver a gentle, non-addictive therapy known as a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments help reduces joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body. By increasing joint mobility and improving nervous system functioning and spinal health, the body will gain better ability to manage the symptoms caused by sciatica. Some of the health benefits that chiropractic adjustments can provide patients with sciatica pain include ✓ Reduced pain, discomfort and inflammation ✓ Improved range of motion ✓ Improved flexibility ✓ Increased activity and lifestyle The type of chiropractic treatment depends on the cause of the patient’s sciatica. Generally, a chiropractic treatment plan may include different treatments such as Ice/Cold therapy, TENS, Ultrasound and Spinal adjustments.
➢ Ice/Cold therapy - This therapy uses cold packs to reduce inflammation on the sciatic nerve and helps control pain. ➢ Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - TENS uses low electrical currents to lower muscle spasms and relax the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve. ➢ Ultrasound – Ultrasound emits gentle heat through sound waves that penetrates deep in to the tissues. This increases blood circulation in the area, thereby reducing muscle spasms, cramping, swelling, stiffness and pain. ➢ Spinal adjustments - An important element of chiropractic care, spinal adjustments help push the spine back into proper alignment. It helps to reduce nerve irritability responsible for causing symptoms like pain, spasm, inflammation, and other discomfort related to sciatica. Adjustment techniques vary from a swift high velocity force to those that combine minimal force and gentle pressure. If left untreated, sciatica can cause long-term damage. In most cases, the nerve condition heals over time if you take proper rest. Chiropractic treatment is a great step for alleviating sciatic nerve pain as it can reduce the symptoms without surgery and with minimal medications.
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