If you're feeling pain that travels from your back or buttocks down your legs, you might be dealing with a common condition known as sciatica. Many individuals seek out a Post Falls chiropractor to find relief from sciatic pain, as finding a long-term solution can be challenging. Left untreated, sciatica can worsen, making everyday tasks increasingly difficult or even impossible. This article aims to help you understand sciatica and how chiropractic treatment can assist in overcoming it.
TREATING SCIATICA IN POST FALLS
Sciatica, or sciatic neuralgia, causes pain in the lower back that radiates down the back of the leg and into the foot. It can make prolonged sitting or standing uncomfortable and may lead to weakness, tingling, and numbness in the leg and foot. Sciatic pain often comes and goes over a person's lifetime, with varying degrees of pain and discomfort. Without proper treatment, sciatic pain typically worsens, potentially resulting in permanent nerve damage.
The reason why sciatic pain can travel so extensively and seem to affect the entire leg and back is because it stems from the compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. This nerve originates in the lumbar spine, extends through the buttocks, and travels down the leg to the ankle and foot. Compression of the vertebrae in the lower back can pinch and irritate the roots of the sciatic nerve, causing pain and injury.
CAUSES OF SCIATICA
Several factors can lead to sciatica, with disc injuries and bulges being the most common. These occur when a disc presses against the nerve root, resulting in the issue. Disc injuries can occur due to poor posture, repetitive use injuries, or accidents. Sciatica also often occurs when there are subluxations (misalignments) in the spine caused by postural issues, pregnancy, or trauma. Some individuals report experiencing extreme pain from simply bending over to pick up a piece of paper, but the spinal condition likely developed over time before the triggering incident.
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT FOR SCIATICA
Chiropractors in Post Falls are skilled at identifying the source of sciatica and determining the most appropriate treatment approach for each individual. After a thorough assessment, gentle adjustments are made to help the body recover its natural alignment.
Responses to treatment can vary, with some individuals experiencing quick relief while others require more time to recover, depending on the condition of the disc or joints that need correction. Generally, the longer the issue persists, the longer it takes to correct. However, it usually takes less time to fix the issue than it took to develop it. Once the spine and discs are realigned, patients often report improvements in their overall health. If you're experiencing symptoms of sciatica, contact our team at Aligned Family Chiropractic today.
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