Soothing Sciatic Pain with Chiropractic
By Sara Butler
Sciatic pain is no fun to live with. Many patients at The Joint Chiropractic first come into the chiropractor for help with sciatic pain -- and for good reason. Chiropractic care is an effective, natural, and gentle way to try to find relief. Here’s what you need to know about sciatic pain, how chiropractic care can help, and what you can do in your own time to reduce this pain in the backside.
The Sciatic Nerve
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It runs from your lower back to the tips of your toes in each leg. Muscle strain, muscle tightness, and even too much sitting can irritate the sciatic nerve. These things contribute to sciatic nerve pain -- as well as more serious problems such as bulging or herniated discs in the spine. Regular chiropractic care can help to identify why you’re having sciatic pain and treat it, rather than simply treating your symptoms.
What You Can Do
As you embark on a treatment plan with your chiropractor, there are things you can do on your own time to help reduce symptoms and help you find relief. Every person’s body is different, but in general, the chiropractors at The Joint have found certain things to be helpful to patients with sciatic nerve pain. You can:
- Practice stretching and yoga – Strenuous exercise isn’t recommended when struggling with sciatic pain but stretching can certainly help. Stretching and yoga can help to improve your posture, lengthen your muscles, and reduce the effects of too much sitting on your hips and lower back.
- Hot and cold therapy – Applying heat and ice to areas of your body that are inflamed may sound simple, but they’re effective! What you need depends upon the type of pain you’re experiencing. For muscle aches, heat works to loosen muscles and increase circulation. For muscle spasms, swelling, and inflammation, cold works to restrict blood flow and reduce pain. Usually, alternating the two therapies is a winning combination.
- Eat right – If inflammation is an issue, then you may want to consider your diet. Lose the refined sugar and trans fat in your diet, and you may find that you feel better.
If you suffer from sciatic pain, then come into The Joint Chiropractic today for an evaluation and discover the root cause of your sciatic symptoms so you can treat them.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.