Having Intense Sciatica Pain? Your Chriropractor May Be Helpful
Sciatica is nerve compression that typically starts in the lower back or buttocks and travels down one or both legs. Pain can be dull, achy, burning, tingling or numbing. After it hit, my friend spent several weeks limping around as she became increasingly worried and limited in her choices. Sleeping became more difficult. Small trips to the store were a challenge as she hung onto the grocery cart and cut shopping short. Her general upbeat attitude began to fade. Before this struck, she was a regular in a yoga class, avid walker and frequent traveler. Now that life was fast becoming history.
How the Chiropractor’s Diagnosis & Treatment Works.
My friend went to the chiropractor in pain, desperate for a solution. The chiropractor started with a detailed discussion of the pain, a review of the patient’s daily habits, and a medical history. Spinal manipulation was used to evaluate the health of her spine and the area of pain.
Diagnosis Can Make A Huge Difference
My friend and the chiropractor began to piece the puzzle together. It turned out that there was a culprit. The patient had recently acquired a new TV and decided to have a computer linked into a port. She loved the idea that she could watch her favorite shows, and then flip over to her computer and work on a few projects for a few minutes.
Gradually she became more and more attached to the convenience and began to spend more time on the couch in a half turned position working on computer projects. The couch was comfortable for sitting, but now she was twisting her body and sitting on a soft, somewhat lumpy cushion in the same position for an hour or more. When this was identified, the chiropractor asked her to go back to her original workstation spot where she normally handled projects, sitting up straight in a chair designed for the task, with her feet flat on the floor, looking straight ahead. She did and the pain began to let up.
The end result was great to see. Her smile, yoga classes, walking ability and overall attitude came back and her treatment evolved into ongoing spinal checks plus posture and work exercises that the chiropractor supplied.
Sciatica Causes & Treatment
Sciatica is a disorder that causes sciatic nerve pain that may stem from misaligned vertebrae, herniated or slipped discs, pregnancy and childbirth, tumors and other non-spinal disorders such as constipation, diabetes, time spent on a lumpy couch or mattress or use of a fat back pocket wallet.
The chiropractor’s approach is to help heal the body with spinal adjustments and environmental changes and exercises, without surgery or drugs. If the chiropractor determines the disorder requires treatment by another specialty then a referral is made.