Sciatica

Symptoms of Sciatica include tingling and weakness accompanied by leg pain.  Pain can shoot down the lower back via the sciatic nerve that stems from the back of the leg.  Sciatica most frequently results from compression’s of spinal nerve roots (radiculopathy) rather than from lesions on the sciatic nerve itself. Pain travels through the sciatic nerve which is made up from several lumbar spinal nerves. It can also result from compression’s of nerve plexuses in the pelvis.  Sciatica is not really a diagnosis but a description of the symptoms of pain radiating along the sciatic nerve.

Symptoms of Sciatica

• Pain in the back, buttocks, hip, or lower extremities.
• Pain after an injury or sitting for long periods of time.
• Mild, severe, or sharp pain.
• Numbness or pins and needles in the legs.
• Burning sensation
• Foot numbness
• Limping
• Muscle weakness

Sciatic pain ranges from moderate discomfort to severe pain, depending on the nature and severity of the underlying condition. In the worst cases, the degree of shooting pain or weakness in the leg may prevent standing and walking altogether. The frequency of symptoms may also vary from occasional through intermittent to ever present.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms schedule an appointment with Dr. Rick Owen. Dr. Owen will examine you properly to determine what is causing your sciatic pain and the appropriate treatment. Ignoring the pain can lead to a worsening of symptoms, so getting an early diagnosis could save you from excoriating pain.

Conditions that cause Sciatica:

• Spondylolisthesis
• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated discs

One of the most common causes of sciatic leg pain is the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. It can be accompanied by the bulging or herniation of the soft pulpy discs which separate each spinal bone. This can irritate or put pressure on the sciatic nerve roots as they leave the spinal cord. The result can be an intense pain shooting down either or both legs.

Treatment of Sciatic nerve pain:

• Chiropractics
• Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and improves structural support of the vertebrae.
• Spinal cord stimulation can effectively block severe chronic sciatic pain.

Chiropractic treatment corrects the source of the problem with carefully controlled pressure removing interference from spinal structures. Chiropractic adjustments can reduce nerve irritation and any associated pain. Sciatica, can be traced to the spine, responds dramatically to the restoration of normal spinal function through non-surgical chiropractic care.

Sciatic nerve: Largest nerve of the body