FAQs About Sciatica and Getting Treatment From a Chiropractor
The sciatic nerve is a pair of nerves that branches out from your lumbar spine, then divides at the pelvis to go down both legs to the feet. Sometimes your spine gets out of alignment and puts pressure on the nerve roots that exit the spine. In turn, you experience pain that ranges from tingling and shocks to numbness and sharp pain. At Grice Chiropractic, our chiropractors help sufferers of sciatica at our Mount Washington and Mars, PA, clinics, and we frequently see patients from the Pittsburgh, PA, area. Here's a look at the frequently asked questions about sciatica.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition that happens when your vertebrae compress or pinch the roots of the sciatic nerve as it exits the spine. The pressure on the nerve root interrupts nerve signals and sends out a pain signal to the brain. Its medical name is lumbar radiculopathy, and it is actually a set of symptoms as opposed to a singular cause.
How Does Sciatica Happen?
Sciatica is caused by several conditions. Height and weight can cause compression and/or disc herniation that decreases the amount of space between the vertebrae. Spending a lot of time sitting with poor posture is another instigator. Working in a job that requires heavy lifting and turning the body can result in uneven loading and unloading of the spine, resulting in vertebrae that fall out of alignment and press on the sciatic nerve root.
How Do I Know the Pain I'm Experiencing Is Sciatica?
Sciatic pain typically runs along one side of the body but is known to affect both sides. You can experience pain in the lower back, center of the hip, buttocks, knee, calf, ankle, and sometimes, the feet. The sciatic nerve exits the spine between the L4 and S3 vertebrae that form the lower back and tailbone. The vertebrae's location plays a role in how low the pain reaches.
What Kind of Treatment Works for Sciatica?
Commonly available pain relievers work well to deliver temporary relief of the pain, but they can't address the cause. The spine needs to be put back into its proper alignment to restore the space between the vertebrae and nerve roots. Chiropractic treatment for sciatica can be an effective method for resolving sciatic pain in the short and long term.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Chiropractor for Sciatica Treatment in Pittsburgh, Mars, and Mount Washington, PA
Grice Chiropractic has two clinics, one in Mount Washington, PA, and another in Mars, PA. We are also within easy reach of Pittsburgh, PA. For more information on sciatica treatment or to schedule an appointment with our chiropractor, call us today or request an appointment online.
