What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is used to describe any pain associated with the Sciatic nerve, which is the largest and longest nerve in the body. Emerging from the low back, it travels through the buttock and down the leg. Pain, discomfort, weakness, numbness, coldness and/or burning sensations usually are felt in one leg and may have a variety of causes. Sciatica can be a symptom or side effect; or even a disorder in and of itself. The term Sciatica is also often used as a generic term to describe any radiating low back or leg pain; related to the Sciatic nerve or not.
True sciatica is an irritation of the sciatic nerve. However the most common cause of Sciatica is a herniated (or bulged, protruded, extruded) disc. A herniated disc is when the jelly-like substance inside the disc protrudes out and then it can cause pressure on the nearby nerves. These nerves then all converge together deep inside and exit through the Sciatic notch (a spot in the buttocks) to become the sciatic nerve. This causes inflammation, pain, burning, weakness, or numbness along the nerve path through the lower back and down the leg. Though typically associated with the spine, you don’t necessarily have to have back pain associated with it.
Other causes may be:
- Injury to low back
- Piriformis syndrome: a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks
- Pregnancy: the baby can indirectly put pressure on the nerve.
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: the narrowing of the spinal cord in the lower back
- Spondylolisthesis: when a vertebrae slips forward over the vertebra below it
- General wear and tear
When to seek treatment for sciatic pain?
With all conditions the earlier you seek treatment the quicker the recovery. If you have been having issues for more than a few weeks you likely need some help to heal the initial issue and the resulting sciatic pain.
Chiropractic and Physical Therapy are great solutions for combatting Sciatic pain. Our providers will find the cause of the sciatic pain and treat not only the inflammation along the nerve pathway but also the initial injury causing the nerve pain. Controlling swelling, reducing inflammation, improving movement (range of motion) and exercises to strengthen and stabilize will all decrease pressure on the Sciatic nerve.
A Message from Dr. Eric!
This is NOT an all-inclusive list of conditions we treat. If you suffer from any type of pain or limited movement due to injury, age, lifestyle, or genetics, we’ve very likely helped countless others with the same conditions. If you’re in pain, your body is telling you something is wrong. Even if you’ve been told by others there is no evidence of injury and therefore no treatment option, we can help.
Give us a call at 812-945-3800 and we’ll figure it out together.
New Albany Chiropractor | Serving Indiana and Kentucky
Address:
McAllister Chiropractic
4308 Grant Line Rd
New Albany, IN 47150
Phone: 812-945-3800
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30AM-6:00PM
McAllister Chiropractic
New Albany, IN 47150
Located in the heart of New Albany, Indiana, McAllister Chiropractic, P.S.C. has been leading the region in professional Chiropractic and wellness care for over twenty years.
Located at
4308 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, IN
Across from Indiana University Southeast
