What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a term that refers to the painful inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the longest
and largest nerve in the body. Sciatica comes from the Latin word meaning “hip.” The
sciatic nerve extends from the buttocks to the toes and is formed from five nerve roots
in the lower back that join together deep in the pelvis. From there, the sciatic nerve divides into many branch nerves that serve the muscles, joints, skin and other tissues in the legs and feet.

The most common cause of sciatica is an irritation of nerve roots as they exit from your spine. Eventually, damaged nerves can restrict joint movement, which interferes with the transport of lubrication to your discs. Unhealthy discs dry out and cause the gel-like inner center to bulge out or herniate. The herniated matter can press against your sciatic nerve, causing further irritation and even irreversible damage if the nerve interference is not removed. Chiropractic care can bring relief to sciatica sufferers.

Experiencing Sciatic Pain
Sciatica flare-ups may or may not involve back pain. The pain can be “referred” to other areas. However, sciatica sufferers often have a history of low back pain.

Early sciatic pain is often so mild that most people ignore it. While your body tries to adapt
to a sciatic nerve injury, you may not feel a thing. By the time you feel pain or numbness, you may already have permanent damage to your musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic care can help prevent sciatica or stop its progression. It is easier to maintain a healthy spine than to treat an unhealthy one.

Sciatica sufferers say the pain is like having an excruciating “toothache” in the leg. However, you don’t have to suffer needlessly from sciatic pain, and you shouldn’t depend on drugs for relief. Drugs may mask the symptoms, but they cannot correct the structural problem that causes the pain. If you have had radiating leg pain and have been told that you need drugs
or surgery, or worse yet if you are waiting for the pain to “just go away,” you need a second opinion.

Help for Sciatica
The goal of chiropractic is to locate the specific misaligned vertebrae and remove the resulting nerve irritation. Gentle chiropractic spinal adjustments can correct the underlying cause of your sciatica.

Call Anderson Chiropractic to schedule an evaluation and find out how chiropractic can help you relieve your pain without drugs or surgery.