While sciatica might be a common ailment that affects about 10 percent of adults, that does not mean that you should have to suffer with it. Sciatica is a shooting nerve pain that begins in the lower back and travels downward through your leg and sometimes to the foot. If you are suffering, it might be time to consider chiropractic treatment for help from a licensed provider, like BC Back Clinic. This is how chiropractic treatment could help.
Adjustments
The core of chiropractic medicine is spinal manipulation in order to help realign your bones and muscles, freeing your spine from any restricted movement that it might have been experiencing. Since sciatic pain originates in the lower back, spinal manipulation, also known as adjustments, can help realign the spine. With the spine in its proper location, the pressure that the sciatic nerve was under could be alleviated, giving you much needed relief. Adjustments can also help with inflammation in the spine that might be putting the nerve under pressure as well.
TENS
Also known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS is a type of therapy that uses an electrical current to not only control the pain, but it can also eliminate any spasms that might be causing or resulting from the sciatica. This is a battery-powered device that comes in a variety of intensities, depending on what you need.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound treatment is a mild heat that is created by sound waves. When used on the area of concern, the ultrasound will improve circulation while reducing muscle spasms, pain, stiffness, and even swelling that could be putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. It provides deep tissue penetration through sound waves that humans cannot hear.
Ice/Cold Therapy
In addition to heat, your chiropractor might also use cold to help manage any inflammation that you are dealing with. Placing a cold pack on the area where the nerve has been compressed can reduce any swelling and give you some relief from the pain. A cold pack should be left on for 15 minutes at a time to be effective and then removed for 15 minutes, before being replaced. Have your chiropractor show you where it should go.
Exercises
Your chiropractor can also supply you with stretches, exercises, and other tips that you can do at home in between visits to not only alleviate the pain, but help heal your lower back and eliminate the sciatica. Performing these exercises in between visits will lower the time it takes to heal and your chiropractor will be able to focus on different adjustments at your subsequent visits. It is always a good idea to do your homework.
It is important to receive a proper diagnosis for your sciatica prior to receiving treatment to make sure there isn’t anything underlying going on, but your chiropractor should be able to confirm the diagnosis.
You do not need to live with the pain of sciatica. Get the relief that you deserve and contact a chiropractor today.