Sciatica Surrenders to Chiropractic Care!

Back pain is the most common disorder seen by chiropractic physicians, comprising of up to 70% of presenting patients.  A substantial number of those patients have sciatica…  the popular term for pain radiating into the back of the leg. Costing billions of dollars to treat every year, sciatica is also a major cost of work related disability.

According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), sciatica is widely suffered by North Americans with up to 40 percent of the population experiencing it during their lifetime. The treatment of low back pain and sciatica is one of greatest challenges for doctors, and is the most expensive condition treated in the United States in people ages 20 through 50.

The term sciatica is a generic term describing pain and discomfort resulting from inflammation of the sciatic nerve. It represents multiple causes of compression to the sciatic nerve including muscle spasm, disc disease, spinal stenosis, and spinal arthritis, which may or may not cause back pain.

If left untreated, sciatica can lead to nerve damage in the leg, resulting in numbness and a loss of muscle strength that may be irreversible. In severe cases of  spinal pathology the nerves that supply the muscles controlling the bowel and bladder may be effected, resulting in incontinence (loss of bowel or bladder control) or sexual dysfunction.

Because sciatica has multiple causes, it’s important to see a doctor who understands this problem well. Chiropractic physicians specialize in disorders of the low back and are uniquely prepared to evaluate and treat this complicated condition. A thorough physical examination usually brings the cause of the sciatica to light, however, sometimes advanced testing by EMG or MRI is required.

 Here are some tips to help prevent sciatica or relieve its symptoms:

• Slowly and carefully strengthen back and abdominal muscles. There are different kinds of exercises for the low back that your doctor of chiropractic can show you.
• Increase your back flexibility by gently stretching your back and hip muscles. This will help your posture and improve your lifting techniques. 
• When lifting, hold the object close to the body and lift with the back straight, rising up by using muscles in the hips and legs. Proper lifting techniques are critical to the prevention of low back pain and sciatica.
• Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Take frequent breaks and walk around or do a short exercise routine. Make sure your work environment is ergonomically sound.
• If the low back is overexerted and becomes painful, an ice pack applied for 20 minutes will usually help the pain and limit swelling which can complicate recovery.

Proper treatment for sciatica addresses the source of the nerve root irritation. Spinal manipulation, a treatment offered mainly by chiropractors, has been proven highly effective as a treatment for this disorder. Spinal manipulation is often combined with  therapeutic modalities, such as electric stimulation and ultrasound, to maximize relief. Exercises are also commonly used to increase flexibility and strength, which assists in the healing process and prevents reoccurrence.