Sciatica pain usually strikes when you least expect it.
Intense pain shoots from your lower back down the back of your leg.
Chiropractic for sciatica pain
Sciatica pain may hit just after you’ve finished a walk outside, gone for a run or even after you’ve been standing awhile enjoying a concert.
(For my husband, it’s usually, conveniently, when he’s doing dishes.)
But, whenever it strikes, sciatica pain can be incredibly debilitating.
In fact, of all of those who suffer from back pain, sciatica sufferers report having the highest level of disability.
The pain can be so strong that it forces many people to miss work or even participate in normal, daily activities.
Chiropractic for Sciatica Pain
Luckily, a recent study followed the effectiveness of chiropractic for sciatica pain in 44 Norwegian patients with severe sciatica pain.
The hospital chiropractor performed a physical and neurological exam on each patient, looking at their range of motion and posture. He then performed chiropractic adjustments to free up any areas of the spine that were locked up or fixated.
What Causes Sciatica?
Patients with sciatica pain usually have one or more nerve roots in the lower back that are being compressed. This causes sciatica pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the legs or arms.
After receiving chiropractic treatment, 91% of the patients who received chiropractic for sciatica pain returned to work full-time, and two returned part-time. The time of their sick leave was reduced by 66% compared to conventional medical treatment.
The researchers concluded that chiropractic treatment for sciatica is extremely beneficial to the patient and encouraged collaboration between chiropractors and orthopedic surgeons.
Kansas City Sciatica Treatment Options
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, there are a few other treatment options for sciatica pain. These include spinal injections (such as an epidural), oral medications and surgery.
While in some cases these sciatica treatment options may be helpful, for many people, they are often much more extreme than what is medically necessary.
Here’s why more and more Kansas City patients are choosing chiropractic for sciatica pain:
Chiropractic for Sciatica Pain is Non-Invasive
Many people suffering from sciatica have pre-exising medical contains. When this is the case, treatment options such as injections or surgery can cause severe side effects. Invasive treatments can often result in infection or increased pain.
Even if patients don’t have a pre-existing medical contain, many choose chiropractic treatment to eliminate their sciatica pain because the thought of surgery or invasive interactions is traumatic.
For these patients, chiropractic care is both an effective and non-invasive treatment option.
Chiropractic for Sciatica Pain Avoids Medical Interactions
When patients are taking other medications, some of the pain killers prescribed to treat sciatica pain could cause an interaction. When medications interact, they can cause serious complications and even physiological damage.
In these cases, chiropractic treatment for sciatica is a natural and safe solution.
Chiropractic for Sciatica Pain is Quick and Effective
Chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain usually involves chiropractic adjustments 2-3 times per week (during the acute phase of pain) that are spread out to once a month during the period of treatment.
Because chiropractic treatment targets the specific area of the spine that are causing sciatica pain, patients often experience immediate relief.
Chiropractic adjustments usually take just 5 minutes or less, and combined with prescribed exercises that the patient can do at home, the results are both quick and effective.
The 12 chiropractors at Fulk Chiropractic specialize in sciatica pain relief. Learn more about sciatica pain relief below or schedule an appointment online.
Learn More About Chiropractic for Sciatica Pain
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References:
- Arana E, Marti-Bonmati L, Vega M, et al. Relationship between low back pain, disability, MR imaging findings and health care provider. Skeletal Radiology 2006;35(9):641-7.