If you’ve ever experienced the excruciating pain of sciatica, you’ll be relieved to know that chiropractic care can be a valuable ally in your journey to relief.
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed, leading to radiating pain, often experienced from the lower back, into the buttocks and radiating down the leg.
Some people can even describe it as a burning or electric shock-like pain. Fortunately, we want to let you know that with chiropractic treatments, we can help provide relief from pain and common symptoms that occur with sciatica and can aid you in finding relief from pain and leading a healthy life.
Sciatica is one of the most common conditions that chiropractors encounter and each chiropractor is equipped to help and support you.
What exactly is sciatica?
The causes of sciatica can be multifaceted. It is commonly triggered by a herniated or slipped disc, where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae in the spine become displaced and press against the sciatic nerve. Additionally, spinal misalignments, spinal stenosis, and even muscle spasms can contribute to sciatic nerve compression.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body and runs from your lower back before branching out and terminating in your foot. Internally, when the sciatic nerve is compressed, it can result in inflammation and irritation. This inflammation can affect the surrounding tissues and cause sciatic pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, often extending to the buttocks and down the leg.
Most people generally experience sciatica down one side of their body. The pain experienced can vary, though common symptoms may be described as shooting pains down the affected leg. Alternatively, there may be some muscle weakness or a dull leg pain down that side.
What are the most common sciatica symptoms?
Whilst the symptoms of sciatica pain may vary from person to person, the most common sciatica symptoms may include:
- Muscle weakness
- Leg numbness, or pins and needles in the lower leg or foot
- Lower back pain which is made worse when in the same position (often sitting or bending) for long periods
- Shooting pain down the affected leg or into the buttock
- Pins and needles
- Intense burning sensation in the lower leg or buttock
Why does sciatica flare up?
Most patients may experience a sciatica flare-up completely out of the blue and for no apparent reason. It is always important, however, to consider how various lifestyle factors may contribute to the onset of sciatica.
Age: As we age and experience greater stresses and changes throughout the whole body, and especially musculoskeletal system, sciatica symptoms or sciatica pain is experienced more commonly.
Occupation: You may have a job that involves sitting for long periods, lifting heavy loads or twisting the spine and body in a way that feels uncomfortable. Each of these activities puts pressure on the sciatic nerve and can lead to a greater risk of experiencing sciatica symptoms.
Obesity: Being overweight can put unnecessary stress on the spine, tighten muscles around the sciatic nerve and may at times lead to herniated discs which can cause nerve damage.
Posture: Poor posture increases your risk of sciatica by putting pressure on the lumbar part of your spine. This can cause muscle fibres to tighten and lead to more weakness and immobility in that area, putting more pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Exercise and sports injury: Sometimes sports or exercise injuries can cause sciatica pain. Whilst this may be the case, we must stress we are huge advocates for sports and know that, when done correctly, specific exercises or sports can improve mobility, and strengthen muscles that support the spine.
Treatment options for sciatica
Very often the symptoms and pain associated with sciatica will reduce on their own after a while. Of course, this isn’t always the case so in these cases, it is important to consider what options are available for the treatment of sciatica pain. Many of the following can be worthwhile treatment options to relieve pain and experience significant improvement from sciatica:
Lifestyle changes: This should always be your first option when experiencing most forms of back and musculoskeletal pain. Introducing gentle exercises into your routine, changing position regularly so that your spine can bend and stretch or applying gentle pressure or heat, in the form of hot packs, hot water bottles or gels can be effective. Trying to find relief from psychological or social stresses is also important as they may sometimes be the underlying cause of your pain.
Physical therapy: Non-invasive physical therapy can take many forms and may include seeing a chiropractor, a physiotherapist or an osteopath, amongst others. These professionals, who may each be considered primary care physicians in the UK, meaning they can diagnose and provide ongoing relief for sciatica, are a great option as they use non-surgical means to provide relief from pain. They will often spend time understanding medical history and lifestyle factors to understand the root cause before they treat sciatica. In these cases they may loosen tight muscles, a chiropractor may provide spinal manipulation in the form of chiropractic adjustments or each may provide a specific treatment plan.
Pain Medication: In some cases, a practitioner may recommend medication to support with numbness, pain management or inflammation in the area. These may be effective for people who have been suffering from sciatica for a long period without finding relief from the above interventions. It is important to discuss medication with a professional first, and is essential you discuss any other underlying condition.
Surgery: In some of the more serious cases, where a practitioner suspects there may be permanent damage and prolonged reduced function for the patient, surgery may be recommended. This surgery often consists of spinal decompression by trimming away part of the facet join in the spine and can be very effective in treating sciatica for chronic sufferers.
How can chiropractic care help with sciatica?
When is the right time to see a chiropractor for sciatica?
Chiropractic care for sciatica can play a crucial role in addressing these issues by utilising specific chiropractic adjustments, or spinal manipulations to relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve. A chiropractor may also incorporate other treatment options such as soft tissue massage to relax tight muscles and reduce inflammation which can contribute to the onset and maintenance of sciatica.
In cases where the nerve compression is due to a herniated disc, chiropractic care can help by gently reducing the pressure on the nerve and allowing it to heal naturally. Additionally, a chiropractor may use natural therapies like dry needling trigger point therapy or stretching of the muscles and spine.
A chiropractor should also provide you with a personal treatment plan, which may include gentle exercises to support you with your sciatica symptoms and further alleviate pain.
Many individuals find significant relief and healing through chiropractic care and specific chiropractic adjustments, making it a non-invasive and drug-free option for managing sciatica.
Does medical research support the use of Chiropractic treatment for sciatic pain relief?
As with all forms of treatment, patients may experience differences in their pain relief and healing as a result of chiropractic care. It is always important to recognise that practising chiropractors have undergone years of training, along with at least two years of practising in a clinical environment before they begin to offer chiropractic care to the public.
A systematic review in 2015 highlighted how chiropractic care provided relief for various types of back pain, highlighting that treatment for sciatica and sciatica pain were some of the most studied and recommended uses for chiropractic treatments.
Further, the NIH (National Institute of Health) has pointed to a vast body of research undertaken in the 21st century, which demonstrates that chiropractic treatments are generally safe and a compelling option for patients, especially when compared with the use of long-term medication.
Before any treatment, you would also undergo a consultation with a chiropractor who would assess your suitability for treatment and discuss their findings with you.
What other holistic treatments are available for sciatica?
Although we understand that spinal manipulation and chiropractic therapy may help sciatica, it’s worthwhile exploring other holistic treatments. The following are available options, many of which we offer at Adam Wilkey Chiropractic, whether with our chiropractors or with other practitioners:
- Light exercise and stretching
- Dry cupping or dry needling
- Heat therapy or Cold therapy (such as ice or heat packs)
- Pilates and Yoga
- Sports massage
- Reflexology or Acupressure
How long does it take for chiropractic treatment to relieve sciatica pain?
Everyone is different and will respond to treatment depending upon their lifestyle and whether there is another underlying cause.
Whilst we do not predict how many chiropractic sessions it will take to experience relief from your symptoms, your chiropractor should help you understand a treatment plan and set realistic goals with you concerning your journey. If you have concerns about lifestyle factors such as stress, finances, medication or other conditions, you should be open and discuss these with your chiropractor.
Can sciatica pain go away on its own?
In some cases, sciatica will leave of its own accord and flare up intermittently. Symptoms differ from person to person and whilst some individuals experience significant pain, some feel numb in their buttocks. If you are concerned, we would love you to get in touch and see a chiropractor for sciatica.
How can I start my chiropractic treatment with Adam Wilkey?
Of course, we recognise how challenging it can be to live with sciatica and we want to do all we can to support people to live pain-free.
We require all of our new patients to undergo a consultation so we can assess the issue. At the end of this consultation, we will also include your first treatment, so you are not waiting for your next appointment. We believe every interaction should leave you feeling more optimistic than before.
Call us Today
If you have any specific questions relating to your condition then please don’t hesitate to call us on 0161 624 2106, or book your first appointment online.