Doctors of Chiropractic medicine usually treats sciatica. Sciatica or sciatic neuritis is characterized by pain that generally originates at the buttocks or lower back of your body and travels to your legs. Sciatic nerve pain differs in frequency or intensity, from minimal, moderate to severe, from occasional, intermittent, frequent to constant.
Sciatic nerve pain can be described as achy, dull, toothache-like, sharp, pins and needles that are very similar to electric shock shooting back and leg pain. Other sciatic neuritis symptoms can include numbness, tingling or burning sensations. Sciatica is also known as referred or radiating pain, neuralgia or neuropathy.
To find out more about this symptom, check out https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/ss/slideshow-visual-guide-to-sciatica for more information.
A common misconception is that it is a disorder, but it is actually a symptom of more severe disease. Patients describe sciatic nerve pain as an achy, dull, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles pain similar to electric shocks
It is caused by nerve compression
It is usually caused by sciatic nerve compression. Spinal disorders that can cause this pain include bulging or herniated discs (also known as slipped discs), subluxations of the lumbar spine (or misaligned vertebral bodies), childbirth, pregnancy, tumors in the spine, as well as non-spinal disorders like diabetes, sitting on the back-pocket wallet and constipation.
Another common cause of this symptom is piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is named after a muscle called the piriformis. This muscle is located in the lower part of your spine. It is connected to your thighbone and helps in hip rotation. The nerve runs underneath the piriformis muscle.
The muscle is vulnerable to any forms of injury from slip or fall, arthritis in the hip or difference in leg length. These kinds of situations can cause spasm or cramping of the piriformis muscle to develop pinching the nerve that can cause inflammation and a lot of pain. The compression of the nerve can result in sensory loss or loss of feeling, paralysis of the limb or group of muscle (also known as monoplegia), and sleeping problems or insomnia.
Proper diagnosis of sciatic neuritis is very important
Since there are a lot of disorders that cause this symptom, the first thing the chiropractors for sciatica needs to do is to determine what causes it. Forming a proper diagnosis will involve a thorough review of the patient’s medical history, as well as a neurological or physical examination.
An appropriate diagnostic test may include magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, X-Ray, CT scan and electrodiagnostic tests like EMG or electromyography and NCV or nerve conduction velocity. The tests will help you determine the possible contradictions to the spinal adjustments, as well as other chiropractic therapies.
Sciatica Symptoms chiropractic treatment
The purpose of this type of treatment is to help your body’s potential to heal by itself. It is based on a principle that a restricted spinal movement can lead to reduced function, pain and performance. Chiropractic treatment is non-surgical, non-invasive and, most importantly, drug-free.
The kind of chiropractic treatment provided will depend on the cause of sciatica. The treatment plan can include different treatments like cold or ice therapies, TENS, ultrasound and spinal manipulation or spinal adjustments. Listed below are the types of treatment for this symptom.
Ice or cold therapy can help reduce inflammation and helps people control the pain. Ultrasound can produce a gentle heat created by the sound wave that penetrates deep into the muscles or soft tissues. The ultrasound can increase circulation and help people reduce cramping, muscle spasms, stiffness, or pain.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation or TENS unit is a small battery-powered, box-like, portable machine that stimulates the muscle. Larger versions of TENS units are being used by a lot of chiropractors, rehab professionals or physical therapists.
Click here to find out more about TENS unit.
Spinal manipulations or spinal adjustments are at the very core of every chiropractic treatment. Manipulation or adjustment frees the restricted movement of the spine. It helps restore subluxation or the misaligned vertebral bodies to their proper position in our body’s spinal column.
It helps minimize nerve irritability that is responsible for pain, muscle spasm, inflammation or other symptoms that is related to sciatic neuritis. Spinal adjustments or manipulation are not painful. It is proven scientifically as both effective and safe.
