Sciatica is pain and discomfort related to the sciatic nerve. This nerve, actually two nerves, runs from the lower part of the spinal cord and down the back of each leg. Pressure on or injury to the sciatic nerve can cause a burning pain in the hip or lower back that may even follow the nerve down to the foot.
The sciatic nerve is the largest diameter nerve in the body and is about the thickness of a person’s thumb. It extends all the way from the lower back to each foot. To do so it has to pass between spinal vertebrae and through the hip bones. If the nerve is pinched at any point, sciatica pain results. The sciatic nerve can be pinched by the vertebrae of the spine or by the muscles in the area, such as the piriformis muscle that is very close to the sciatic nerve. The nerve actually passes through this muscle, in some people. A muscle spasm or tension can also compress the sciatic nerve and cause pain.
Sciatica is quite common and about forty percent of the population will experience it at some point in their lives. The pain is due to the irritation of the sciatic nerve and it is often accompanied numbness or a tingling in the knee, the calf or the thigh that may even extend down to the feet or toes. Pain is most often on one side or the other, not both. The pain usually starts out as mild and then increases, sometime even to the point of being unbearable. Any activity that puts strain on the legs, spine or lower back can cause an increase of symptoms.
Sciatica can make any normal activity difficult or impossible. Walking, sitting or even laughing can bring on pain and discomfort.
The problem is that sciatica is often just treated with pain medication. While medication can alleviate the symptoms, it does not address the actual cause. Since the cause is not addressed, the condition can get worse. These medications often have dangerous and severe side effects that can undermine health. Other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, may give temporary relief, but it doesn’t address the actual cause.
The point is to find the cause of the sciatica and fix it. This is where Doctor Martin who is an experienced Clear Lake Chiropractor enters the picture. Dr. Martin finds the cause of the sciatica and employs gentle and natural chiropractic techniques to adjust the problem area and alleviate the pressure that is causing the irritated nerve.
If you are interested in a natural solution to sciatica, then please feel free to contact Clear Lake Chiropractic today! We are here to help you get back to a pain free life that you can enjoy.
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