Sciatica is the irritation and inflammation of the sciatic nerve. It is frequently associated with symptoms like radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and/or muscle weakness in the legs and feet. While not all sciatica is the same, it can be frequently treated and managed with conservative care like chiropractic.
What is the Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It starts in the low back from a bunch of nerves that exit your spine and come together like onramps to form a nerve highway. When disc injuries in your low back or arthritis push on the nerves exiting the spine, you can experience a variety of symptoms down one or both legs where the sciatic nerve travels. Sciatic is frequently confused with false sciatica or piriformis syndrome. Consult your trusted healthcare provider to determine if you have sciatica.
Sciatica Symptoms and Causes
Symptoms of sciatica include numbness, tingling, burning, radiating pain, and/or muscle weakness. Frequently radiating pain, numbness, and tingling travel down the back of one or both legs below the knee and sometimes all the way to the foot or toes. Muscle weakness could include trouble lifting your leg, trouble walking, or dragging your toe as you walk. If you experience symptoms like loss of bowel or bladder control go the emergency room immediately!
The causes of sciatica include:
Disc Tears
Disc Bulges
Disc Herniations
Disc Extrusions
Spine Degeneration
And other less common disease problems
Sciatica Treatment Anchorage
At Metro Chiropractic our experienced clinicians can help you diagnose if you truly have sciatica or another problem. If you have sciatica we can work to relieve the tension on your sciatic nerve with Active Release Technique and massage, adjust your low back and pelvis, and teach you how to manage your injury to maximize your recovery and prevent future flairs. We can also help you navigate a complex healthcare system by advising on the appropriateness of imaging and linking you to other qualified healthcare practitioners when needed.