Chiropractic Manipulations And Sciatic Nerve Treatment

Sciatic Nerve Treatment & Chiropractic Manipulations

Sciatica pain originates in the lower back & radiates down one or both legs. The pain may be intense, moderate, or minimal, and occasional, frequent, also constant.

Physicians term sciatica as a radiating or referred pain, or neuralgia. This pain is often dull, achy, sharp, or similar to an electric shock.

Why Sciatica Pain happens

Sciatica pain is not a disorder, but a symptom of compression of the sciatic nerve. The common causes are spinal disorders due to:

-partial dislocation of a vertebra in lumbar spine -herniated or bulging discs -postural problems -sitting on one's back pocket wallet

Sciatica pain may sometimes be due to certain non-spinal conditions such as diabetes and chronic constipation and pregnancy, childbirth, infections or tumors.

Piriformis syndrome also causes pain similar to sciatica. The Piriformis muscle in the lower spinal region and connects to the thigh. It is crucial for the rotation of the hips. When this muscle shortens or spasms due to an injury, hip arthritis, or difference in leg length, it pinches the sciatic nerve. The pinched nerve causes pain, numbness and tingling in the buttocks and along the path of the sciatic nerve.

Ways to treat of Sciatica Pain

Conventional sciatic nerve treatment involves symptomatic pain relief through non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs and/or muscle relaxants. The problem is that the pain is caused due to the pinched nerve, and medications cannot correct that. Surgery may lead to irreversible changes of the disc or bones. Another problem is presented by the fact that sciatica pain gets worse with bed rest.

Chiropractic manipulations are an important role in alternative treatment modalities. Even in conventional treatments of sciatica pain, the initial step is stretching exercises, massage and avoidance of activities that add to the pain.

Chiropractic Treatment of Sciatica Pain

Chiropractic treatment of the pinched sciatic nerve is based on the scientific principle that the cause of the pain is the restricted spinal movement due to reduced functionality and performance. Chiropractic care is drug-free and non-invasive, which means that there is no risk of side effects.

A chiropractor employs many methods for treating sciatica pain. The most common and effective among them is spinal manipulation of the dislocations that have occurred in the patient's body. This involves application of gentle and minimal pressure, or fast high velocity thrusts to restore the position of the misaligned vertebrae in the spinal column.

In addition, a chiropractor may employ cold therapy and/or heat from ultrasound. Cold therapy is an effective way of decreasing inflammation and pain relief. Heat produced from gentle sound waves from an ultrasound increases circulation and reduces muscle spasms.

It is important that you get chiropractic treatment from a qualified chiropractor. Chiropractic practitioners undergo training in colleges where techniques of treating partial dislocation of joints or organs are taught.

Like all alternative therapies, chiropractic care is based on the self-healing capacity of the body. Chiropractic care does not seek to cure, but instead helps to restore the spine to its original position so that the herniated disc does not compress the sciatic nerve.

A qualified chiropractor will refer you to another sciatic nerve treatment if the condition is not within the sight of chiropractic care. Go to http://www.wellness-doc.com for more information