Sciatica is as tricky and deceptive as a sly magician: Sciatic pain often alters between severe and constant to mild and intermittent; can affect one leg, both, or switch from side to side; and it may even masquerade as low-back pain for months until more characteristic sciatic pain begins.
But, fortunately, chiropractic sheds light on these sciatic “tricks”. Although its source may appear deceiving, Dr. Winchester finds that the root cause of sciatica is usually in the spine.
The Sciatic Nerve
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the pelvis through the hip area and buttocks and then courses down the back of each leg.
The term “sciatica” refers to the inflammation of this nerve and the pain that radiates along its course. Sciatica may feel like a leg cramp or as numbness, burning or a pins-and-needles sensation.
Sciatic pain can also be excruciatingly piercing or stabbing. In one study of patients with chronic pain, sciatica sufferers endured “significantly higher” pain scores and limitation in daily living activities than any other group.
The Root of the Problem
Although sciatic pain is generally in the legs, Dr. Winchester wants patients to understand that the root cause is often compression of the sciatic nerve root, which is the beginning of the sciatic nerve as it exits the spinal cord in the lower back.
Nerve root compression is frequently the result of one of two conditions: vertebral subluxation (misalignment of the spinal bones) or sacroiliac subluxation (misalignment of the pelvic bones). When the spinal or pelvic bones are even slightly out of place, spinal movement is restricted, which in turn irritates the muscles, discs and the nerve root—causing pain.
Other causes of sciatic nerve compression include herniated spinal discs and piriformis syndrome (inflammation of the piriformis muscle in the buttocks).
Often, more than one of these four causes occurs simultaneously, so it is vital to identify and address all factors. The good news is that research shows that chiropractic care is effective at alleviating all four of the common causes of sciatic pain.
Vertebral and Sacroiliac Subluxations
Dr. Dana Winchester practices Gonstead chiropractic which corrects both vertebral and sacroiliac subluxations with specific adjustments. These maneuvers, which are safe and effective, successfully realign spinal and pelvic bones.
Research shows that Gonstead chiropractic adjustments are highly successful for sciatic pain associated with vertebral and sacroiliac subluxations.
We’re here to help
If you currently have back pain or leg pain, it’s vital to avoid self-diagnosing and self-medicating. The origin may lie in the sciatic nerve root or may be related to another cause, unconnected to the sciatic nerve. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Dana Winchester today to discover the underlying problem.