How a Chiropractor Can Help with Sciatica Pain Relief

Have you ever felt a shooting pain radiate from your back to your hips and down your leg? Well, you are not alone. As many as 40% of all people will experience this pain during their life with increasing frequency as they age (Canadian Chiropractic Association). The pain that you experienced is called sciatica. To get relief from your sciatica pain, make an appointment with Whyte Avenue Chiropractic today.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a term used to describe the pain resulting from the irritation of the sciatic nerve.  The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body.  It’s formed by a bundle of nerves that start in your lower back and sacrum before moving deep in the buttock and down the thigh all the way to the foot.

While many people think that they have sciatica, it is very common to have buttock and thigh pain that does not come from the sciatic nerve.  In most of theses cases, the pain is referred from other structures of the lumbar spine or the sacro-iliac (SI) joint.  Deep referred pain is regularly seen in a chiropractic clinic and responds very well to chiropractic spinal manipulation.

In cases of true sciatica, most often the pain is caused by a herniated or bulging lumbar disc that pinches a spinal nerve root.  This can occur with injury, but also occurs without a known cause.  It is also common to develop sciatic pain from arthritis of the spine and age-related disc degeneration.   

How is Sciatica Treated?

There are several chiropractic treatments for sciatica pain relief including:

• Spinal manipulation
• Segmental traction, flexion-distraction or spinal traction-decompression
• Specific exercises
• Soft tissue treatment (shockwave, myofascial release, acupuncture)

Consult with your Whyte Avenue Chiropractic chiropractor to find out which chiropractic treatment is best for your sciatica pain.

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation, also known as chiropractic adjustment, is a chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain relief that works by maintaining motion in the lumbar spine, normalizing muscle tone, and normalizing the pain response.  This treatment can help reduce nerve irritability responsible for inflammation, muscle spasm, pain, and other symptoms related to sciatica

Flexion Distraction

This form of chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain relief is aimed at allowing more space for the spinal nerve by widening the spinal canal and reducing pressure on the spinal nerves. The patient lies face down on a specialized table that allows the chiropractor to perform comfortable lumbar spine flexion and segmental vertebral traction to the patient.

Spinal Decompression

Decompression chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain relief involves gently stretching the low back on a traction table.  Spinal traction is used to treat herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves and other back conditions.

For people with severe sciatic pain, it is important to note that it is normal for the pain to come and go during the healing period. If the pain goes for longer periods than it comes, it is a great sign that you are healing.

What You Can Do at Home

Although chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain relief can be highly effective, your chiropractor might also suggest several of the following to help alleviate the pain and help with healing:

• Perform prescribed exercises
• Avoid long hours of sitting
• Practice good posture
• Try to stay active

Get Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica Pain Relief

Sciatica pain can be debilitating and a major hindrance for daily life. Whyte Avenue Chiropractic & Wellness Centre is a multidisciplinary clinic that can provide effective chiropractic treatment options for sciatica pain relief. Book an appointment to start relieving your sciatica pain.