The sciatic nerve is one of the most annoying nerves to have an issue with! The nerve serves as a “roadway” between your lower back down the back of your leg to your foot. When the nerve has a block or something interfering with it, you likely will feel numbness, shooting, or even “electric” pains shooting down the back of the leg. There could be a few causes of sciatica, which help gear us toward how we treat the condition. It is important to see a professional as soon as possible once you start having symptoms so that the condition can be monitored and treated before it becomes a part of your life! Most sciatic complaints can be addressed with chiropractic care with either starting at acute or chronic care, shifting to maintenance care. If you experience any symptoms relating to bowel or bladder changes, or numbness or tingling of your inner thigh regions, you should seek medical attention immediately as this is a medical emergency. If you are not experiencing the symptoms above, seek care from a chiropractor!
The chiropractor comes in “handy” (no pun intended) when it comes to addressing the sciatic nerve. In the exam, the chiropractor will look to see what the cause of the complaint is. Combining your symptoms with your orthopedic exam, the cause of the complaint can be predicted which can help shift the direction of your care. Some of the causes of sciatic pain include: disc issues, degeneration/arthritis, muscle tension, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and more.
One of the most common causes is from discs. Discs are joints that separate each vertebrae. They allow each joint to move freely and independently of one another, while providing enough “cushion” between the vertebrae to allow nerves to pass through their designated spaces without pressure. Patients with a diagnosed disc herniation or disc bulge are prone to experiencing this condition as a symptom. When a disc herniates, a small portion of the disc becomes exposed in a space that does not typically allow for discs (anywhere outside of the vertebral body space above or below the disc). Even a small portion of the disc impacting the nerve can impede it from functioning properly. Depending on the timing and condition, chiropractic adjustments can be a great way to move the joints into their proper positioning to help with nerve functionality!
Discs are a strong culprit for any symptoms that travel, but that does not necessarily mean that it’s a cause of the complaint. If no trauma or impact was involved, degeneration/arthritis could even be a culprit. A common issue with degeneration and arthritis in the joints is an altered spinal curve (either too curved, or too straight), where increased pressure can wear on a disc. Over time, the disc becomes smaller as a victim of degeneration, thereby narrowing the space where the nerves exit in the back of the spine (intervertebral foramen aka IVF). If degeneration is a cause, many other structures such as the facet joint also can become impacted, leading to other symptoms that could travel to different parts of the body. Chiropractic adjustments can be a great way to address this type of cause, along with postural correction exercises to work on long term benefits.
Believe it or not, sciatica does not have to necessarily be related to any of these problems, as you may be a victim of just a tight muscle. A loosened up which could free the nerve root. Piriformis syndrome is a condition that is defined by a tight muscle in your gluteal region, where the muscle becomes so tight that it inhibits the sciatic nerve around it. There are even multiple ways that this nerve can surround the muscle, which can make you more prone to suffering from sciatic nerve pains. It is hard to tell for sure which way the nerve crosses around it, but if you notice you experience waves of symptoms then there is a chance your nerve is passing “through” it! At Salt and Spine, we address the muscles as well as the joints to attack more aspects of what is potentially causing pain. For a condition such as this, we offer myofascial tissue release, electric stimulation, shockwave, muscle scraping, muscle stripping, IASTM, and more to alleviate the muscle stress. We also recommend massage therapy as a great way to address muscle tension. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is a good idea to have them checked out by one of our doctors who can guide you to best addressing the cause of these conditions! Believe it or not, there are many potential causes of sciatic nerve impingement, with more on the list not discussed in this volume. Whether you are just now experiencing the symptoms, or have had them for a long time, ask one of us today if chiropractic care could potentially help you with addressing your sciatica.
