Unexpected Side Effects of Sciatica
By Sara Butler
Sciatica is a painful condition that many people have to deal with. Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It runs from your lower back all the way to the tips of your toes. If something goes wrong somewhere along the pathway, then it can result in pain, numbness, and tingling -- but that's not all. There are a few side effects of sciatica that many people aren't familiar with. Here are a few that you may want to ask the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic if you're experiencing these symptoms.
Loss of Balance
Numbness and muscle weakness in the leg are common side effects of sciatica. It can be difficult to deal with the pain but there's one danger to these symptoms that people don't think much about: loss of balance. When you have numbness or weakness in your toes, foot, leg, or calf, then it can alter the way your body perceives its balance. The communication between your leg and your brain is being interrupted and can cause confusion along the way, which can have an impact on balance. This makes the risk of suffering from ankle injuries, falls, and other injuries related to balance that much more significant.
Problems With Posture
When you have chronic pain, such as when you have sciatica, then it's your body's natural defense to avoid putting pressure on the area that is causing the pain. In the case of sciatica, this can mean that you alter the way you're walking as not to put pressure on the leg that is causing you problem or you don't twist or bend your back in a way that can trigger pain. This is a habit chiropractors refer to as overprotective posture and it can have a big impact on your overall health.
Whenever the body's natural alignment is altered, it can result in joint restrictions and dysfunctions that can cause a cascading effect to other places on your body. In other words, you may experience other issues due to an altered posture such as neck pain, fatigue, and headaches. It can also have an impact on your breathing and digestion.
Sciatica is a big problem but one that the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic are happy to help you with. If you suspect you have irritated your sciatic nerve, then come into The Joint for an evaluation today.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fairfax, Va.