Pain often interferes with every aspect of daily life causing limitations to activities and a can lead to a negative outlook on the future. Due to this, it can be very important to determine the cause of the pain and choose the correct method of correction. Constant pressure on the sciatic nerve may be one of the most common causes of back, leg and foot pain.
Chiropractic and sciatica tend to go hand in hand for anyone looking for the first line of defense. Chiropractors are trained to diagnosis and evaluate sciatica, as well as determine the cause and develop a plan of treatment. The chiropractic approach to treatment of discomfort is based on the fact that spinal misalignments cause pain and a decrease in function. By eliminating the restrictions, the body can then heal itself as it was designed to do.
The sciatic nerve is the biggest and longest nerve in the entire body and is connected to the complex central nervous system that relays messages (both positive and negative) to the brain. The sciatic nerve pathway begins at the lower back and extends through the buttocks, behind the knees and then branches into much smaller sections down to include the feet.
Sciatic pain is manifested in a number of ways including; traveling or shooting pain from the lower back through the buttocks, behind the knee and down to the foot, or it maybe felt as tingling and/or burning sensation to this area. It may present as numbness or weakness from the lower back to the foot or just a distinct portion of this area. By combining chiropractic and sciatica, one can reduce the symptoms and cause of the pain.
A chiropractic and sciatica approach will first be concerned with determining the cause of pain. A chiropractor is able to do this by obtaining a complete and thorough medical history and then performing a physical and neurological exam. These steps will help dictate the direction needed to be taken to complete the exam. Tests can include X-rays, MRI and CT scans to further determine the root of the problem and confirm that chiropractic care is indeed the best approach to relieving the pain and discomfort. If for some reason the chiropractor feels that the treatment is beyond his scope of practice, he or she will then refer the patient to a specialist.
Once the cause of the sciatic pain has been determined, the chiropractor will then develop a plan of care. There are a number of ways that can be used to treat sciatica depending on the underlying cause. The treatment in the combination of chiropractic and sciatica maybe as simple as applying ice/ cold packs to the affected area, this will help decrease any inflammation and in turn decrease the pain felt. Spinal manipulation may also be required to help realign the spine. In this way, the pain and discomfort are then relieved.
In addition, the use of ultrasound or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) maybe indicated. Ultrasound penetrates deep tissue using sound waves and heat, thus increasing blood circulation and decreasing pain and discomfort, while TENS machines transmit electrical current through electrodes placed on the skin that, among other things, encourage the body to produce endorphins, assisting in the relief of pain.
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