Sciatica

What is sciatica?

Many patients use sciatica and lower back pain interchangeably. However, sciatica is the term for the group of symptoms caused by compression of your sciatic nerve, including:

• Lower back pain
• Pain that extends through your hips, buttocks, and legs
• Numbness or tingling in your legs
• Electrical jolt sensations in your buttocks or legs
• Loss of balance or coordination

Sciatica symptoms can affect one or both of your legs, depending on the location of your sciatic nerve compression. Your symptoms can also come and go. You might find that specific movements trigger your symptoms or increase their intensity.

Herniated discs in your lower spine are the most common cause of sciatica pain. Sciatica can also be caused by:

• Bone spurs
• Tumors
• Diabetic neuropathy

Piriformis syndrome is another common cause of sciatica.

When should I talk to a chiropractor about sciatica?

You should never ignore pain or signs of a nerve problem. If your sciatica symptoms are mild, you can try at-home care like rest, ice packs, and heating pads, but if your symptoms don’t go away within a few days or get worse, call Inspire Chiropractic.

You should also make an appointment if your symptoms follow a violent injury, if they come on suddenly and severely, or if they interfere with your mobility. Dr. Coletti provides thorough exams to evaluate your condition and identify the best way to reduce your sciatica symptoms.

How is sciatica treated?

Dr. Coletti provides personalized chiropractic treatment plans to reduce your symptoms and help your body heal. Depending on your specific needs, Dr. Coletti might include any of the following treatments in your program:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Physical therapy
• Massage
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization
• Spinal decompression

Dr. Coletti also uses the flexion-distraction technique to treat sciatica. The flexion-distraction technique uses gentle and controlled force to reduce pressure on your sciatic nerve. During the treatment, you lie face down on a special treatment table. The table slowly moves to flex your back in a rhythmic pattern.

While your spine is distracted, Dr. Coletti performs gentle adjustments to create negative pressure in your spine, which helps a herniated disc move back into place. Repairing your disc reduces compression and inflammation in your spine and provides long-lasting relief.

If you’re concerned about sciatica, call Inspire Chiropractic or make an appointment online today.