About 10-40% of the general population will experience sciatica at some point in their lives. For some, it feels like a mild ache in the low back, buttocks, or legs. For others, they experience more severe pain, along with burning sensations or numbness and tingling.
Whatever the case may be, chiropractic care can help relieve your pain and get back to the activities you know and love. So, let’s dive into this topic a little further. What is sciatica exactly? How can you relieve sciatic nerve pain? And how does chiropractic care help?
What is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. It runs from your lower spine, through your buttocks, and down your legs, connecting your nervous system with the skin of your leg, thigh, and foot.
Yet, when the sciatica nerve becomes compressed, you might experience sciatica. You might have pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness. These symptoms might also get worse when you stand up or after sitting down for long durations. Typically, sciatica only impacts one side of the body at a time. This, usually, means it affects only your left or right side.
Treatment of sciatica varies depending on what is causing it in the first place. So, let’s examine the best way to relieve sciatica nerve pain a little closer.
What is the Best Way to Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain?
All in all, sciatic nerve pain is frequently caused by compression. This means that the main goal of treatment is to take the pressure off of the sciatic nerve.
Chiropractors are experts when it comes to the spine, musculoskeletal system, and nervous system. Thus, chiropractic care for sciatica is one of the best treatment options to relieve your pain and other symptoms.
A chiropractor will gather a thorough history of the injury and perform various tests to determine an appropriate course of treatment. Usually, sciatic pain relief involves chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue release, specifically if tight or spastic muscles are found to be a source causing compression of the nerve. A chiropractic adjustment and soft tissue release can help restore normal function of the spine and pelvis, which takes the pressure off of the sciatic nerve. All chiropractic treatments are entirely safe and painless.
Seeing a chiropractor regularly can further help prevent flare-ups or any similar issues with your spine and musculoskeletal system. Think of it kind of like taking your car in to get an oil change. It can keep your spine in tip-top shape, preventing increased pain and hassle down the road.
Additional, pain relief mechanisms may include:
- Applying a cold compress (this should be done right after pain occurs)
- Applying a hot compress (this can be used a few days after your initial pain, specifically to help relieve tight or spastic muscles)
- Taking anti-inflammatories
- And stretching
How Long Does It Take For Sciatica to Go Away?
Typically, sciatica gets better within four to six weeks. For more acute cases, it might resolve within only a couple of weeks. At the same time, visiting a chiropractor for sciatica can help speed things along and prevent future flare-ups.
At Keystone Chiropractic, we understand how important your health is for your overall quality of life and happiness. We believe making an investment in your health is one of the best things you can do to improve your entire life. If you’re looking for chiropractors in Plano, TX that you can trust, look no further. We are here to help. Contact Keystone Chiropractic today and begin your journey toward a better life.
