If you have pain that shoots down your legs or feels uncomfortable in the lower back region, you could be suffering from sciatic nerve pain. Millions of people suffer from sciatic nerve pain, with the levels of pain and location varying from person to person. The identifiable quality of sciatic nerve pain is that it starts in your lower back or buttocks areas. The good news is there are sciatic pain treatments out there; the better news is that there are chiropractic treatments that can help significantly.

What exactly is Sciatic Nerve Pain and what causes it?

Sciatic nerve pain is often mistaken for a disorder; however, it is actually a symptom of a disorder. There are different disorders that can cause sciatic nerve pain such as lumbar spine subluxations, herniated or bulging discs, and even simply sitting on a wallet in your back pocket can lead to sciatic nerve pain.

Sciatic nerve pain can be described as sharp pains, as well as dull pains, and even the feeling of pins or needles; every person may experience it differently. Because of how it affects each person differently, getting specialized treatment is crucial, and the best way to treat this pain is with chiropractic care.

Diagnosis of Sciatic Nerve Pain

The first step in treating the symptom of sciatic nerve pain is obtaining a proper diagnosis to the root cause of your pain. After a proper orthopedic examination, diagnostic testing may be ordered such as x-rays, MRI, CT scan, or even electrodiagnostic tests to confirm the source of your pains. These tests will determine the exact cause and from there you can begin to treat it more specifically.

Treating Sciatic Nerve Pain with Chiropractic Care

The benefits of treating sciatic nerve pain with chiropractic care are that it is non-invasive and is also drug-free. The type of chiropractic care that will have the biggest effect on helping you feel better will depend on the diagnosis. Spinal Decompression Therapy is the most commonly used method for treating sciatic nerve pain. If a herniated or “bulging” disc is the root cause of the sciatic nerve pain, decompression therapy delivers the proper nutrients and oxygenation to the injured tissue making for the fastest recovery. For more information on how decompression therapy may help your pains, click here. Other commonly used methods include:

  • Ice therapy – this will help reduce inflammation
  • Ultrasound therapy – this can be used to send sound waves deep into the tissue which increases local blood circulation
  • Interferential current – this machine can help reduce muscle spasms often accompanied by sciatic nerve pain
  • TENS – this is a small portable muscle stimulating machine made more for home use similar to interferential current treatment 
  • Chiropractic adjustments – by undergoing adjustments related to your spine and back, you can correct misalignments that lead to sciatic nerve pain. Adjustments can also reduce irritability, muscle spasms, pain and more

These non-invasive methods of treatment often keep patients away from painful surgical procedures.

If you ever find yourself in any kind of pain, whether you think it is sciatic nerve pain or not, the first step should always be to find the right doctor to find the proper diagnosis. Once diagnosed, getting treatment regularly and frequently will be key to overcoming the pain you are experiencing. Reinhardt Chiropractic is committed to making you feel better, doing what needs to be done to get you back on your feet, literally! Reach out today if you have any questions.