Do you have Sciatica? How we can help.

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve.

Chiropractors are well educated to effectively treat sciatica. Patients describe the pain as dull, achy, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles, shooting pains or electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations sometimes at night while sleeping.

Sciatica is caused by sciatic nerve compression or impingement. Health changes that can cause sciatic nerve pain include pregnancy and childbirth with the center of gravity biomechanical changes, lumbar spine subluxations, herniated or irritated discs, tumors, constipation and common cause of sciatica is piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is named after the piriformis muscle, this can refer pain into the low back are and mimic disc injury pain. The piriformis muscle is located in the lower part of the spine and sacrum and assists in hip rotation. The sciatic nerve runs most often beneath the piriformis muscle, it can however run over it or through the piriformis in some individuals. Injuries such as slips and falls can cause cramping and spasm to develop in the piriformis muscle, thereby pinching the sciatic nerve and causing inflammation and sciatic pain.

Chiropractors can fully assess and diagnose sciatica a piriformis syndrome, Since there are many disorders that cause sciatica, the chiropractor's first step is to do diagnostic testing which may include an x-ray, MRI, CT scan and other testing may be done.  

 A chiropractic sciatica treatment plan may include several different treatments including chiropractic adjustments, stretches, strengthening, ART, heat or ice therapy, supplementation of omega 3’s, B complex and magnesium. Some chiropractors may recommend a TENS unit (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) to reduce the pain with out medications.

For more information call our office at 403-347-3261 and speak with Dr. Joelle Johnson at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness. 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, T4R2C3 www.family1stchiro.ca