Sciatica is a common source of lower back pain, affecting as many as 40% of us at some point during our lives. Caused by irritation or compression of the long sciatic nerve, sciatica symptoms can interfere with all sorts of activities — even sleep.
Fortunately, most sciatica can be relieved with nonsurgical therapies focused on relieving inflammation and nerve compression. At Easy Reach Chiropractic, Barbara Adonis, DC, and Heather Previll, PT, DPT, specialize in custom sciatica treatment plans that help relieve pain and prevent it from recurring.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, extending from your lower back where it exits the spine all the way down to your foot. When it leaves your spine, the sciatic nerve splits into two branches, with each branch traveling down a leg.
Sciatica happens when the nerve is compressed or pinched, usually near the point where it exits the spine. Because the nerve is so long, you can wind up with symptoms anywhere along its path, from your lower back into your buttock, hip, leg, and even your foot.
Lots of factors can cause or contribute to sciatic nerve compression or irritation, which is one reason why sciatica is so prevalent. A few of the more common causes include:
Heavy lifting, repetitive bending, sitting or standing for long periods, and even poor posture can all lead to inflammation and disc problems, which, in turn, can cause sciatica.
In addition to lower back pain, sciatica can cause pain in your buttock, along with numbness, muscle weakness, and coordination problems.
Like other nerve-related problems, sciatica responds best to early treatment. Without prompt medical attention, continual nerve irritation can eventually lead to permanent nerve damage, along with lifelong discomfort, numbness, and muscle weakness.
Though some severe types of sciatica may require surgery, most sciatica responds well to conservative therapies, particularly when treatment begins as early as possible. At our practice, we offer several treatment options, allowing us to tailor your therapy specifically for your needs.
Graston therapy uses special instruments developed specifically for soft tissue injury treatment. These instruments help break up scar tissue that may be interfering with normal nerve function. Therapy also helps relieve inflammation surrounding the sciatica nerve.
Spinal decompression therapy uses an exam table designed to gently stretch your back, expanding the spaces between your vertebrae to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. This type of therapy can be especially helpful for people with herniated discs.
Lasers play important roles in managing sciatica symptoms. During laser treatment, focused beams of laser energy painlessly penetrate your skin while being absorbed by the tissues surrounding your sciatic nerve.
Once absorbed, the energy triggers healing responses, reducing inflammation that compresses the sciatic nerve.
Shockwave therapy uses deeply penetrating sound waves to target damaged and inflamed tissues. Once the waves reach their target, they initiate cellular responses that help repair tissue, reduce swelling, and hasten overall healing and recovery.
In addition, we may recommend spinal adjustment, massage, and lifestyle changes to help relieve current symptoms and prevent them from recurring. Your therapy plan will be entirely personalized for your health needs.
Sciatica can make even the simplest tasks uncomfortable, but fortunately, treatment can help. To learn how we can help you relieve your sciatica symptoms and even prevent them from recurring, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Easy Reach Chiropractic in Lake Worth and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, today.
