Sharp, radiating pain shoots from your lower back all the way down your leg and you’re unable to find relief. Maybe you’re seven months pregnant with a toddler to run after. Maybe you’re a college basketball player and the bench has been your home for the last month. Or you’re a construction worker who can’t climb ladders because of sciatica.
Sciatica pain can be debilitating no matter your age or station in life. The good news is that there are natural ways to find relief and healing. As a chiropractor, I provide expertise and adjustments that can help your body in a powerful way!
Understanding Sciatica: What is it?
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, running from your lower spine through your pelvis and buttocks, down each leg, all the way to your feet. It connects the spinal cord to the soft tissues and muscles of your legs and feet.
Sciatica, medically known as radiculopathy, occurs when the sciatic nerve gets pinched and/or irritated. This pain can be described as burning, shooting, or tingling, that starts in the low back and down the legs. It can be either constant or sporadic. To say this condition makes life hard is an understatement!
Four common causes of sciatica include:
- Herniated or slipped discs that may trap and pinch the sciatic nerve.
- Piriformis Syndrome where muscle spasms and contraction put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
- Spinal Stenosis, which involves a narrowing in the space between the vertebrae and the spinal cord.
- A misalignment of the spine, which causes or contributes to nerve dysfunction.
As a chiropractor, I can do a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of your pain, and then work to provide the best treatment plan for you.
Chiropractic Care: A Natural Option
Research shows that chiropractic care can be the key to healing for sciatica sufferers. In a 2010 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 60% of people found relief through chiropractic care when they couldn’t find it from other treatments.
Consistency is vital when it comes to chiropractic care. During the study, 120 people saw a chiropractor about three times a week for four weeks and then continued weekly visits, tapering off treatment as they felt better. These people reported lasting benefits for up to a year.
Healing takes time and ongoing chiropractic care can help maintain a pain-free and active life. You’ll be able to lift children, lumber, or a basketball again without the sciatica pain stopping you!
At Annex Family Chiropractic, we work with you on optimizing your neuromusculoskeletal system. The goal isn’t just to help you feel better, but to enhance your body’s natural healing abilities. Gentle adjustments to your spine and the rest of your body are aimed at improving your posture, biomechanics, and overall alignment.
Chiropractic adjustments create a response in your nervous system, releasing the stress that holds your body in a state of fight or flight. This response not only relieves pain but also restores normal mobility to the affected area.
Chiropractic care can also reduce the cause of inflammation, which creates an environment that promotes your body’s natural healing mechanisms. It’s like giving your body a gentle nudge to heal itself.
Here’s an example from a few years ago. Loucas was a young student suffering from sciatica pain, who came to understand what it means to treat the underlying cause and not just the symptoms.
“All of a sudden I couldn’t walk properly… and I’m only 20 years old. I tried lots of things, but chiropractic has made the biggest difference.”
Watch his testimonial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gABVD4HBjv4
If you’re ready to unlock the benefits of chiropractic care for sciatica relief, here’s your action plan:
- Find a qualified chiropractor in your area who specializes in neuromusculoskeletal care. (If you’re near the Toronto Annex, we’d love to help!)
- Schedule an evaluation. During this appointment, we’ll discuss your symptoms, take a medical history, and do a thorough analysis and examination with scans.
- Commit to a care plan of regular visits to help your body realign and heal. Be patient and consistent! While you may find immediate pain relief, chiropractic care often takes time to show its full effects.
- Enjoy the natural relief and improved quality of life that comes with a healthier nervous system and reduced pain!
Take the first step towards not just pain-relief, but an active life! Ready to have your nervous system function checked? Call 416-967-4466 for an appointment at our midtown Toronto office, or schedule online here: https://annexfamilychiropractic.live/booking-page
You may also be interested in: Managing Lower Back Pain at Home https://annexfamilychiropractic.com/managing-lower-back-pain-at-home/
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5378521/
https://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(10)00211-3/fulltext
