Sciatica Pain Can Be Managed With Chiropractic Care: Here’s How
Are you experiencing terrible, jerking pain in your lower back? Do you find it difficult to move even a little? If yes, it could be sciatic.
The sciatic nerve is located in the lower back and goes down to the hips, buttocks, and legs. It is the largest and widest nerve in the body, providing stimulation and sensation to the lower legs.
Sometimes, intense overuse of the vertebral discs causes them to wear down and herniate. This herniated disc presses upon the sciatic nerve. When this happens, the pressure on the sciatic nerve causes irritation and intense discomfort. This condition is called sciatica.
While not a fatal condition, sciatica can be extremely painful and may reduce the quality of your life. Usually, doctors prescribe OTC medication to manage the ailment. However, if you’re unhappy with the thought of taking medication, you may want to consider seeking chiropractic care.
How chiropractic sessions can address sciatica pain
It can reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve
Chiropractic sessions involve muscle and spinal adjustments, massages, and acupuncture. Together, these treatments help relieve the pressure that the herniated disc puts on the sciatic nerve. When the pressure on the nerve reduces, the inflammation and irritation in the nerve go down automatically.
It can reduce the pain and discomfort of piriformis syndrome
The piriformis muscle is situated in the buttocks and sometimes it can get pulled or spasm uncontrollably, leading to intense pain in the buttocks and lower back. The sciatic nerve passes just below this muscle and any spasming of the piriformis muscle can cause sciatica.
Chiropractic treatments can help alleviate the pain experienced as a result of this intense piriformis muscle spasming. Dr. Ashley Dixon will work with you to identify the pain points and relax them using a combination of gentle exercises and stretching and hot/ice therapy. Acupuncture is also used to relieve the stress in the piriformis muscle by activating the trigger points. The doctor will also advise you on postural correction, to ensure the condition doesn’t occur again.
It can reduce the inflammation around the trigger points
Sciatica can cause swelling and tenderness in the lower back. This happens due to the inflammation of the muscles around the pinched sciatic nerve.
Chiropractic treatments like ice/cold therapy and hot therapy are extremely helpful in reducing the inflammation and tenderness in the lower back. Additionally, the heat and the cold make the blood vessels in the lower back dilate, increasing blood circulation in the lower back, hips and lower legs. The same effects are received through acupuncture.
It can strengthen the muscles and joints in the lower back and legs
As part of these chiropractic sessions at Dixon Chiropractic, Dr. Ashley Dixon will teach you a set of easy-to-do exercises, which will prevent the recurrence of sciatica. These exercises will help stretch and strengthen the muscles in your lower back, allowing you to withstand wear-and-tear better.
If you’d like to schedule a consolation or treatment session at the Dixon Chiropractic, give us a call. Our team is happy to assist you in any way possible.
