The Dangers of Untreated Sciatica
By Sara Butler
Sciatica is a painful condition in which you may have tingling and pain in your lower back, buttocks, hips, thighs, legs, and feet. That’s because it’s a condition that impacts the largest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve. Pressure on this nerve can be the result of inflammation or from narrowing of the spinal canal as you age, among other things. What happens if you ignore this condition and try to simply live with the pain and discomfort instead of seeking chiropractic help? Read on to find out!
The Importance of Prompt Treatment
One of the most important things about sciatica is first identifying you have it and then determining what is causing it so it can be treated. If you don’t seek help for sciatic problems, over time the condition may only continue to get worse and cause lasting damage to the lower back and hips.
Problems if Left Untreated
There are several issues that can arise from untreated sciatica. You may experience:
- Nerve damage – If you don’t seek medical treatment for your condition, then you run a very high risk of suffering nerve damage that may be permanent. If that happens, then the pain in the back and legs may only get worse with time, finally reaching a point in which the things you’ve been doing to help relieve pain, such as pain medications, are no longer effective.
- Loss of feeling – In extreme cases, you may experience loss of feeling in the affected limb. This can impact mobility and add another problem on top of the pain you may be experiencing.
- Loss of bladder control – In some rare instances, the part of the spinal cord that allows you control over your bladder may be impacted, leading to loss of control. That’s why it’s so important to seek help when you first have symptoms and avoid potentially serious outcomes that could impact you for the rest of your life.
See the Chiropractor
When you notice pain in your lower back, hip, leg, or even toes, you should see the chiropractors at The Joint as soon as you can. You don’t have to live with the kind of pain caused by sciatica and if you seek care for it as soon as possible, then you have a better chance of finding a solution for it before it morphs into more serious problems.
Don't ignore pain, especially something as significant as sciatic pain!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Las Vegas, Nev.