FAQs about Sciatica and Sciatic Pain, What to know
FAQs about Sciatica
The sciatic nerve starts from your lower back and runs through your buttocks, hips, back of your legs, and feet, making it the widest and longest nerve in the entire body. An issue with this nerve is termed "sciatica," and it is characterized by tingling, numbness, pain, and/or weakness.
If you are dealing with this condition, Dr. Beau Van Wechel, your chiropractor here at Pure Health Chiropractic and Wellness in Union, KY, can help ease your symptoms using chiropractic care and other related treatments.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica usually occurs when something is impinging on or irritating one of the lower back’s nerve roots. Typically, this “something” is a herniated or bulging disk between the lower spine and vertebrae. However, many other conditions can cause sciatica, so determining its exact cause is vital to proper treatment. The conditions that usually cause sciatica include degenerative disc disease, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and Piriformis syndrome.
What are the Symptoms of Sciatica?
It is very crucial to note that one person’s symptoms may differ from someone else's. For instance, some may feel numbness, while others may feel radiating pain and weakness. Regardless of the symptoms, however, doctors can typically diagnose sciatica based solely on the symptoms of the person.
Sciatica symptoms usually include the following:
- Radiating or shooting pain along your lower back, hips, buttocks, and back of your leg
- Muscle tingling, numbness, or weakness in your lower back, leg, or hip
- Painful or burning sensations on the back of your legs that radiate to your calf
- Pain and numbness in your lower spine, leg, or hip
- Numbness or pain on just one side of your body
Lifting heavy things as well as sitting and standing for too long could aggravate sciatica symptoms. For some people, even sneezing and coughing could worsen their symptoms.
How is Sciatica Treated?
Since sciatica eventually goes away on its own, in most cases, chiropractors prefer conservative treatment methods, including:
- Heat or ice therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Stretching exercises
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Yoga
If these treatment options don’t work as expected, your doctor may recommend some imaging tests, including an X-ray or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to dig deeper into what’s causing your pain. Depending on the results of the tests, your doctor may likewise recommend steroid injections or surgery. However, take note that surgery is usually the last resort and is only recommended for people with severe sciatica cases.
Need Relief? Call our Union, KY, Office Today
Is your sciatica causing you pain and all sorts of discomfort? Dr. Beau Van Wechel can help. Call Pure Health Chiropractic and Wellness in Union, KY, today at (859) 647-7780 to schedule your consultation.
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