Have you ever experienced sharp pain shooting from your upper thighs to your feet? Do you suffer from lower back pain? You may be suffering from sciatic nerve pain. Sciatica can be incredibly painful, but the good news is, there’s hope!
According to The Mayo Clinic, “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.”
Sciatic nerve pain starts in the lower spine and radiates down the leg. This pain may come and go, but it definitely shouldn’t be ignored. The pain may range from a dull ache, to sharp pain, and may even feel like you’ve been shocked in your leg. If you think you may be suffering from sciatic nerve pain, read on for its causes, symptoms, and natural treatment options!
Causes of Sciatic Nerve Pain
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched. The most common causes of sciatic nerve pain include:
- a bulging or herniated disk
- lumbar spinal stenosis
- spondylolisthesis
- trauma
- piriformis syndrome
- spinal tumors
Of course, these common causes are not an all-inclusive list! Sciatic nerve pain can be caused by a number of factors.
There are several risk factors for sciatic nerve pain. These include:
- Age- As we age, the spine changes. Herniated disks can occur, bone spurs may develop, and other age related issues can often contribute to sciatica.
- Obesity- Being overweight increases the stress on the spine. These stresses can cause subluxations in the spine, which may pinch the sciatic nerve.
- Occupation- Certain jobs put you at a higher risk for sciatic nerve pain. Any job that requires you to twist your back, lift heavy loads, or sit for extended periods of time can increases chances of sciatica.
- Prolonged sitting- You may have heard the phrase, “Sitting is the new smoking.” By living a sedentary lifestyle, you increase your risks of developing sciatic nerve pain.
- Diabetes- Diabetes affects the way the body uses blood sugar. Unfortunately, it also increases your risk of nerve damage as well.
If you are experiencing lower back pain or sciatic nerve pain, please contact our offices today! Dr. Dee can help! 615-203-3505
Symptoms of Sciatic Nerve Pain
Sciatica, in and of itself, is actually a symptom. This lower back and leg pain can occur from the base of your back all the way to your toes. With sciatica, you may also experience other symptoms. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Weakness in the Knees- The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the entire body. It runs from the lower spine all the way down to the foot. If it becomes pinched, or its function is disrupted, several sensations can occur throughout the body. These include pain, weakness, and tingling — typically in a single leg.
- Radiating Pain- One test that a doctor of chiropractor may conduct to determine if you have sciatic nerve pain is fairly simple. They may have you lie down with your feet stretched out. Next, you can attempt to raise your leg between 30 and 70 degrees. If you experience radiating pain down your entire leg, below your knee, and even down to your toes, you likely have sciatica. This test is effective because it makes stretch the affected leg, and therefore the entire sciatic nerve. If it is the sciatic nerve that is pinched, you’ll definitely feel it with this simple stretch.
- Numbness or Tingling Along the Lower Back and Leg- Sciatica typically effects one side of the body at a time. You may experience numbness, tingling, and radiating pain as the nerve is pinched.
If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact Healing Hands Chiropractic, located in Murfreesboro, TN, today! 615-203-3505
Healing Hands Chiropractic Can Help Treat Sciatic Nerve Pain
Over the counter and prescription medications do not treat sciatic nerve pain at its source. They may temporarily mask the pain, but sciatica will continue to come back until the source of the pain is corrected.
Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic knows how to treat sciatic nerve pain. Sciatica is often a result of misalignments in the spine. As an expert of the spine, Dr. Dee can identify the source of your sciatic nerve pain and correct it! This helps patients live happier, healthier lives.
Through chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Dee will realign the spine. A properly aligned spine relieves muscle pain and tension, reduces pressures on nerves, and promotes healing throughout the body. This allows the body (and sciatic nerve!) to function as it should. The result? Quicker pain relief and healing!
Chiropractic care can specifically treat sciatic nerve pain by:
- relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve
- realigning the spine
- increasing nerve flow and function
- treating sciatica at its source
- promoting the body’s ability to heal itself
If you suspect you are suffering from sciatic nerve pain, it’s time to visit us at Healing Hands Chiropractic! Sciatica and its symptoms are not something to ignore. Contact our offices today to set up your consultation and appointment. Dr. Dee and Healing Hands Chiropractic can help alleviate you sciatic nerve pain.
Get your quality of life back today and call us at 615-203-3505!
Other Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care extends far beyond sciatica pain relief. Chiropractic focuses on treating the body as a whole.
The spine houses the central nervous system, which controls every system in the body. A properly aligned spine allows the body to function as it should. A misaligned spine can create ailments throughout the body. These ailments may manifest as headaches, trouble sleeping, back pain, and more.
By correcting these subluxations with chiropractic care, the body can function at its best! Benefits of chiropractic care include, but are not limited to:
- increased energy
- improved focus
- better posture
- improved mood
- stress relief
- boosted immunity
- improved sleep
- improved athletic performance
- lower medical costs
- fewer hospital stays
If you’re interested in how chiropractic care can improve your health and overall quality of life, give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you! 615-203-3505
