Know the Importance of Sciatica

At the Premier Wellness Group, our chiropractic team provides both medical and rehabilitative chiropractic care for the people of Cape Coral, FL, and surrounding communities. One of the most common conditions we evaluate and treat at our facility is sciatica. Read on to learn more.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a syndrome rather than a specific disease process. It happens when one of your two sciatic nerves (large nerves that exit your spinal cord in the lower back area) become compressed by something. This nerve compression leads to irritation of the nerve, and consequently a variety of symptoms that will vary in type, location, and intensity.

What are the Signs & Symptoms of Sciatica?

The main symptoms of sciatica involve leg pain. Typically, just one leg is involved, but if both sciatic nerves (which provide both sensory and motor innervation to your legs) are involved then both legs may be affected.

Some of the classic sciatica symptoms include:

• Leg numbness
• Leg weakness
• Leg pain (often described as sharp, shooting, burning, or searing)

This pain may radiate down the leg all the way into the foot, though it primarily occurs in the buttocks and upper leg area. Less commonly, sciatica may present with lower back pain, stiffness, and discomfort.

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica is not caused by one singular thing. The compression or impingement of the sciatic nerve could be caused by a disc herniation, muscle spasm, joint space narrowing, degenerative changes within the spine, a tumor, and so on. Anyone is at risk for developing sciatica, though men and women between the ages of 30 and 50 seem to be most at risk.

The Role of Chiropractic Care in the Management of Sciatica

When a person sees a doctor of chiropractic for help with their sciatica symptoms, the first order of business is to reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Chiropractors can achieve this through things like manual spinal decompression and chiropractic adjustments.

Other chiropractic care services that can help relieve sciatica symptoms (and prevent them from recurring) including corrective exercises and stretches, lifestyle and workplace modifications, postural re-training, soft tissue mobilization, and even stem cell therapy.

Looking for Sciatica Treatment in Cape Coral? Connect with a Chiropractor at Premier Wellness Group

Are you wondering if your signs and symptoms are related to sciatica? Schedule an appointment with a Cape Coral chiropractor today by calling the Premier Wellness Group.