Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica Treatment from our Chiropractor in Charleston

When it comes to lower back pain, one of the most common and troublesome is sciatica. Of course, lower back pain doesn't adequately describe the pain of sciatica, since the pain is notorious for shooting down the buttocks into the thighs and even down to the calves. Why does sciatica hurt so much, and what can you do about it?

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica is pain that is caused when the sciatic nerve becomes triggered due to lower back and spine problems and injuries, such as a herniated disk. This pain varies in location, intensity, and duration. The sciatic nerve is a long nerve that runs from the lower back down the legs. If you think of the sciatic nerve like a tree branch, you'll see that there are nerve offshoots that run into the buttocks, thigh, calf, and foot. Sciatica pain occurs when the nerve is pinched. Causes may be a result of inflammation due to injury or chronic conditions. A lumbar herniated disk, spinal stenosis or degenerative disk disease can all cause the nerve to pinch and result in pain.

Sometimes the pain is mild and manageable, but it can become so severe that it is debilitating. It's common for the pain to start in the lower back and shoot down the length of one leg and into the foot. Pain is usually described as sharp, shooting, burning and throbbing. It may worsen with sitting and can make walking painful.

What Can Be Done To Help Sciatica?

Because it is a symptom, the most important thing to do is find and treat the underlying problem. Your chiropractor can help. By addressing the cause, treating the cause and approaching the situation holistically, your chiropractor will help alleviate the symptoms and reduce the occurrence of more pain. Chiropractic care for sciatica is effective because your doctor will use a variety of healing modalities including massage, adjustment, heat, exercise and other forms of chiropractic care to provide relief for the problem.