Bottom Line:
Nearly everyone will have back pain at some point in their life, but with sciatica, you’ll know something is different right away. Pain that begins in your back, travels down your buttocks, and then shoots down your leg is a classic sign of sciatica. The shooting pain down your leg is caused by compression on one of the nerves exiting your spine. Even a small amount of pressure can cause a tremendous amount of pain, so getting rid of the inflammation and opening up space around the nerve is essential for providing relief.
Why it Matters:
Pinching, or compression on a spinal nerve can occur because of an injury to one of your spinal discs (such as disc herniation) or the development of a bone spur. Either way, it’s likely to cause pain and discomfort until you can decrease the inflammation, open up space for the nerve, and/or improve the movement of your spinal joints.
- Sciatica occurs when a spinal nerve gets pinched by a disc, bone spur, or ligament and can cause pain that travels down the buttocks and leg.
- Research has discovered that 60% of people with sciatica benefitted from chiropractic care to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention (without any of the risks!).
- Exercise and rehab can help strengthen the muscles supporting your spine and reduce the likelihood of a relapse.
Next Steps:
Pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs can be scary. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to consult with our office right away. Top research publications have shown that people struggling with sciatica can get fantastic results with chiropractic care. Reach out today to discover if the techniques we offer in our practice can help you get on the road to relief.
Science Source:
Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. JMPT 2010
