Millions of Americans suffer from sciatica, a painful condition involving the long sciatic nerve that stretches from your lower back down each leg. Though some people have temporary sciatica symptoms that resolve fairly quickly, other people are plagued by chronic or recurrent symptoms that cause considerable discomfort and interfere with simple activities — even sleeping.
At Easy Reach Chiropractic, Barbara Adonis, DC, and her team help patients find meaningful, long-term relief from sciatica symptoms with evidence-based therapies that help women and men restore their comfort and their mobility without invasive surgery. Here, learn about six patient-centered, noninvasive therapies that can help you find much-needed relief.
When most people think of chiropractic care, they think of spinal adjustments — controlled force exerted against the spine to bring its components back into alignment. Adjustments help with sciatica by realigning the bones (vertebrae) in your lower spine where the sciatic nerve exits the spinal canal before traveling down each leg.
Realigning the spine relieves pressure on the sciatic nerve while improving spine function and movement. Alignment alleviates nerve irritation that leads to pain, numbness, weakness, and other symptoms associated with sciatica.
Massage is another hands-on technique that offers lots of relief for sciatica pain. Massage uses specific techniques to target muscles and other tissues surrounding the sciatic nerve, improving circulation and reducing inflammation in the area.
Deep tissue massage and trigger point release alleviate painful muscle “knots” that press on nerves and lead to swelling and inflammation. Plus, massage improves mobility in the lower back and buttocks, improving alignment and reducing flare-ups in the future.
Spinal decompression uses a special decompression table that helps gently stretch your spine, coaxing discs and vertebrae back into their proper positions. The gentle stretching movement decreases pressure on the sciatic nerve, relieving irritation and inflammation.
Decompression also creates areas of negative pressure that improve blood flow and natural healing. Spinal decompression therapy is especially effective for people with herniated discs and degenerative disc disease, conditions that can lead to recurrent sciatica episodes.
Class 4 laser therapy uses special light wavelengths to penetrate the skin and target areas of inflammation around the sciatic nerve. Laser therapy is completely noninvasive, making it a good option for people seeking sciatica relief without surgery.
In addition to relieving inflammation, laser therapy stimulates natural healing around the irritated sciatic nerve. Like other options on this list, it’s repeatable as needed to provide long-lasting relief.
Also called the Graston technique, this therapy uses special instruments designed specifically to provide deep tissue manipulation. In sciatica treatment, Graston therapy releases tight muscle knots, breaks apart scar tissue lesions, increases circulation, and stimulates natural healing around the sciatic nerve.
Graston therapy targets inflammation and irritation that cause sciatica, relieving pain and improving flexibility. Graston therapy can be used alone or in combination with other therapies, like massage or spinal manipulation.
Like laser therapy, acoustic shockwave therapy uses energy waves to painlessly penetrate your skin. Laser therapy uses focused light energy, but acoustic shockwave therapy uses high-frequency sound waves.
Sound waves work by stimulating circulation around the irritated nerve, bringing oxygen and nutrients necessary for healing while carrying away toxic byproducts. Improved circulation reduces inflammation and improves overall tissue function.
In addition to these hands-on therapies, we often recommend lifestyle changes, like weight loss, regular exercise, and improved workplace ergonomics to improve comfort and prevent sciatica from recurring.
To learn how we can help you find relief for your painful sciatica symptoms, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Easy Reach Chiropractic in Lake Worth and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, today.
