Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica
The irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower spine is known as sciatica. The pain associated from this condition is not just localized to the back, but can occur within the buttocks, radiate down the legs, and even below the knee. Sciatica is often only felt on one side of the body. As the largest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve's origin is formed by the combination of 5 nerve roots located in the lower spine and plays a critical role in the connection of the spinal cord with the foot, leg, and thigh.
The sciatic nerve can be affected in a number of ways to include:
- Segmental instability — characterized by a hyper extended range of motion that occurs between vertebral segments.
- Herniated discs — the most common form of sciatic pain occurs when a disc ruptures and irritates nearby nerves.
- Foraminal stenosis — occurs when the intervertebral opening begins to narrow, compressing the sciatic nerve.
On rare occasions, sciatica is caused by abscesses, infections, cysts, or tumors that occur in the lower spine. The Jacobson Sports Chiropractic in Lakeway, TX, can address the root cause of your sciatic pain and devise an effective treatment plan designed just for you.
What Causes Sciatica?
There are six common causes for spinal nerve compression, lumbar or sciatic nerve pain:
- Spinal tumor — although a rarity, these tumors are cancerous or benign abnormal growths
- Trauma to the spine — caused by falling, automobile accidents, or sports injuries which place pressure on the sacral spine or lumbar nerve roots
- Piriformis syndrome — occurs when the piriformis muscles cause irritation to the sciatic nerve
- Spondylolisthesis — a disorder that is caused when a vertebra slips forward on another vertebra in the lumbar spine
- Herniated or bulging disc — degenerative changes to spinal discs can aggravate the sciatic nerve
- Lumbar spinal stenosis — commonly known for affecting older adults, this disorder is characterized as the clogging or narrowing of passageways in the spinal column.
How Can a Chiropractor Provide Pain Relief?
The primary goal of chiropractic treatment is to help the body heal using drug-free and non-invasive modalities. Our highly trained chiropractic staff at Jacobson Sports Chiropractic proudly serves the Lakeway, TX, area and will conduct a thorough assessment of your sciatic nerve pain levels and create a sciatica treatment plan that may include multiple treatment options, including:
- Spinal adjustments
- Ice/cold therapies
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
If you are suffering from sciatic nerve pain, contact us at 512-746-8385 to schedule a consultation.