Sciatica (back and leg pain)
The human spine is composed of 24 bones. The bottom 5 and the tailbone are called the lumbar spine. Your bones are coupled together by delicate joints. The normal working of these joints allows free back movement and normal posture.
Injury to the lumbar spine can result in one or more of these joints locking out of position. This causes pressure on the delicate nerves that are situated close by these joints. Result: pain.
Back and leg pain is usually caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. This problem is also known as sciatica.
Detailed Explanation of Sciatica
Sciatica can be a distracting pain that starts in the lower back and extends down into one or both legs. Chiropractic care has proven to be quite helpful.
Before submitting to dangerous and irreversible surgery, more and more patients are seeking the natural approach offered by chiropractors. Those suffering from sciatica are often in their 40s and 50s. It usually begins as an acute pain in the lower back and then extends down the back of either leg. The pain usually worsens with long periods of sitting or standing.
Like a large river created by smaller streams, five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form the two sciatic nerves. The soft, pulpy disc between each spinal bone is often involved. While a disc can’t “slip,” it can bulge, herniate or rupture. This can put direct pressure on the nearby nerves. The result? Swelling. Inflammation. Pain when coughing, sneezing or with others kinds of movement.
Sciatica often worsens with extended bed rest. Pain pills or muscle relaxers are unable to correct the nerve compression caused by the bulging disc. Physical therapy merely works the area to increase your tolerance to pain. Surgery often involves cutting away disc tissue or removing bone to make room for the nerve.
Fortunately, sciatica often responds to safe, natural chiropractic therapy
Improving joint motion with a series of chiropractic adjustments has produced results for millions. “Before” and “after” images of the lower back often show improved disc height and spacing. Many patients report that they can resume their lives and that their symptoms disappear. Without resorting to drugs or surgery.
Your chiropractic doctor is uniquely skilled to evaluate and reduce the most common cause of sciatica nerve pain. It’s the natural approach to relief and better health. There is hope!
How do you get sciatica?
It’s easy to trace some spinal problems to an event, such as a car accident. Yet, sciatica is often the result of cumulative damage. Years of bad posture, poor muscle tone, excess weight or countless other causes set the stage. Then, something simple like bending over to tie your shoes can trigger an episode.
Can anything else cause sciatica?
Spinal decay can be another culprit. Instead of disc thinning that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve roots, arthritic bone spurs can intrude into the space normally reserved for the nerve.
Can chiropractic cure sciatica?
Actually, chiropractic doesn’t cure anything! Only your body can do that. The chiropractic approach to sciatica (and other health problems) is to help restore the way your spine works, reducing nerve irritation and revitalising your own healing ability.
How long will I need chiropractic care?
Most sciatica patients are delighted with the results they get after weeks or months of care. Naturally, this varies from patient to patient. After a relapse or two, many discover that years of neglect have produced spinal instabilities that never fully heal. These patients elect to continue with periodic chiropractic checkups. It’s up to you.
Contact Mind & Body Chiropractic
If you are suffering from back and leg pain (sciatica), the team at Mind & Body Chiropractic can help you. Arrange for a consultation with one of our specialists today.
