Skip to main content

How Chiropractors Treat Sciatica


Sciatica is a condition that is regularly addressed by Doctors of Chiropractic. It’s a condition that can make it very hard to function; even sitting down can be painful. It also presents symptoms that can come and go. Many thousands of people suffer with this condition, and it can be truly debilitating at times.
Addressing the symptoms of sciatica may not be enough; in order to control the condition entirely it’s important to address the root cause. The first step is getting a proper diagnosis, and that’s where your chiropractor comes in. Learn about sciatica, what it is, how it causes the pain and discomfort it does, and how Woodbridge chiropractors treat sciatica to bring relief to their patients.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain that’s caused by pressure on your sciatic nerve. This pain usually originates in the lower back and can radiate into the buttock and even down your legs. It can vary in intensity from mild to severe. In some patients it’s constant, while in others it only crops up occasionally. Sciatic nerve pain is usually experienced as similar to that from a toothache, but it can be dull or sharp, a sensation of pins and needles, or electric shocks.
People suffering from sciatica can also experience burning, numbness and tingling in their limbs. It is also referred to as neuropathy, neuralgia, referred or radiating pain. It can result in loss of feeling, insomnia, and even paralysis.
What Causes Sciatica?
There can be a number of different causes for sciatic nerve compression. Some of these conditions involve pregnancy and childbirth, tumors, diabetes, constipation and even sitting on your wallet. Other causes include herniated discs in your back or subluxations of the lumbar spine.
Among the more common causes of the condition is piriformis syndrome. This syndrome occurs when your piriformis muscle, in your lower back connecting to your spine, gets injured from slip-and-fall injuries, arthritis, or leg length difference.
Diagnosing the Condition
Because there are so many different potential causes of the condition, it’s vital that it be properly diagnosed so that the underlying cause can be addressed. A chiropractor’s first step in treating sciatica is to figure out what has caused it. This can involve a careful review of your medical history gained from a thorough examination both physical and neurological.
This testing can involve a variety of tests including x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and others. They can help to detect whether a spinal adjustment alone will be able to treat your condition, or whether it will be a part of the treatment.
Woodbridge Chiropractors
Very often, spinal manipulations can adjust subluxations, or misalignments, in your spine that can cause or contribute to sciatica. They can even address some underlying causes such as arthritis, uneven legs and more. Seeking the right treatments from Woodbridge chiropractors is essential to managing and eliminating your pain and living a better, healthier life overall.
For the past 8 years and counting, ACT Wellness have been the leading Woodbridge chiropractors. We offer comprehensive health and wellness services, with a non-invasive, whole-body approach to living better. Get in touch for an appointment today!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Vertebrae of the Week: Review of Your Lumbar Region Vertebrae

Over the past few weeks we’ve explored the lumbar, or lower back, vertebrae. While these don’t protect root nerve bundles like your upper and middle spine, they do bear the weight of almost your entire back above them. They also do protect the largest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve. They are, as such, particularly vulnerable to compression injuries and various conditions related to age, wear and tear. Let’s take a look at each of the lumbar region vertebrae, from the top L1 vertebra through the lowest L5 vertebra, see what function each has, and the dangers of injury for each. L1 Vertebra The L1 vertebra is the highest bone in your lumbar region. It is what is known as a “transitional” vertebra, serving as the point where your thoracic region becomes the lumbar. Injuries to the L1 region are most often related to compression issues, with one of the most common being spondylolisthesis. L2 Vertebra Next down in your spine is the L2 vertebra. At this level, we see in...

Health Goals for 2019

It’s the very end of 2018, another year behind us, and we’re almost through two decades of the twenty-first century. Time flies, and society seems to be changing faster than ever. We live in a fast-paced world full of stress and pressure, and nobody seems to have time to relax and enjoy life. This unfortunately leads to people living lives that aren’t as healthy as they should be. In fact, the United States is one of the unhealthiest nations in the world, despite having leading medical science. A recent report from the New York Post even declared that people have written off being healthy in 2018, and determined to simply wait till 2019 to try to get healthier. They’re eating more sweets and gaining weight. Of course, when people talk about waiting, they’re usually talking about New Year resolutions, but just making a resolution isn’t the solution. To get healthy in 2019, you need to actually make a plan and stick to it. Just swearing to lose weight or get healthy next ye...

Vertebrae of the Week: L3 Vertebra

Next up in our ongoing series about each of the bones in your spine is the L3 vertebra. The third bone down in your lumbar, or lower back area, the L3 is the central bone in this region. Like the other lumbar vertebrae, this bone carries a substantial role in bearing the weight of your torso. Also like the other bones in your lumbar spine, this vertebra does not protect specific nerve bundles, which means that problems arising from injuries to this region present differently than in your middle or upper back. Learn about the L3 vertebra, the role it plays in your spine, and how a chiropractor in Woodbridge, VA, can help to deal with injuries and issues from this important bone. L3 Vertebra Conditions and Injuries There are a range of spinal injuries that can affect or be caused by the L3 vertebra. These include herniated or bulging discs, bone spurs, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, and spinal arthritis, among others. A number of common conditions, including sports injuries, ca...