What You Need to Know About Sciatica
Bottom Line:
Sciatica is leg pain, numbness, or tingling that originates in your low back. And wow, can it hurt! The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It is made up of individual branches or nerve roots in your lower back that combine to form the sciatic nerve, which then travels down into your legs. Increased leg pain when sitting, weakness in your leg/foot, and sharp pain that makes walking difficult are common symptoms people experience when the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated.
Why it Matters:
Did you know that sciatica often resolves without resorting to risky medications or dangerous surgery? Research has shown that 89% of patients suffering from sciatica responded very well to chiropractic adjustments. Medications or injections are no longer a first-line treatment due to their risks and limited effectiveness. Also, if you've thought about therapy that doesn't include spinal mobilization, here is something to consider: a recent paper found that 20% more patients experienced relief with spinal adjustments than exercise alone.
- Nerve roots in your lower back combine to form the sciatic nerve.
- The sciatic nerve travels from your lower back down into your buttocks, legs, and feet.
- Research shows over 89% of patients with sciatica respond well to chiropractic care.
Next Steps:
Sciatica can severely impact your quality of life. But rest assured that you don't need to immediately resort to medications, injections, or surgery to correct the problem. Top research publications have shown that these risky prescriptions are hardly ever more effective than spinal adjustments. So, starting with chiropractic care is the smartest decision you can make. If you know someone struggling with sciatica, encourage them to schedule an appointment with us today.
Science Source:
Outcomes of Acute and Chronic Patients with Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniations Receiving High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude, Spinal
Manipulative Therapy: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study with One Year Follow-Up Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. March/April 2014