The term sciatica describes a group of symptoms. These symptoms can range in severity from mild to severe enough to interfere with your daily life. Fortunately, at Back in Balance Wellness Center, serving Ellsworth, Bangor, and the surrounding Maine areas, we have years of experience providing our patients with chiropractic care for lower back pain relief. Following are the answers to questions our chiropractor frequently receives regarding sciatica.
What's Sciatica?
Sciatica describes numbness, burning, tingling, and weakness in your lower back and possibly hips, buttocks, and legs as well. The symptoms tend to affect one side at a time. You may also have lower back pain from sciatica.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica happens when you experience sciatic nerve damage or compression on that nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest one in your body. It runs from your lower back, through your buttocks, and down each leg. In most cases, sciatica stems from a pinched nerve that occurs as a result of a herniated disc. With disc herniation, the contents of a disc seep through a crack in the disc's lining. The contents place pressure on the sciatic nerve.
You could also develop sciatic nerve pain due to a bone spur. Often, it occurs from osteoarthritis or tendinitis, both of which cause inflammation. The protrusion places pressure on the sciatic nerve. Pregnant women may experience sciatic during pregnancy. In the first trimester, hormonal changes cause it. On the other hand, in the third trimester, the unborn baby can put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Diabetes or a cancerous mass can also irritate the sciatic nerve. While these instances are rare, they have been recorded.
Who's Most at Risk?
Herniated discs are more common as a person ages, which makes age a factor. If you're obese, your risk of sciatica is also greater. People who have jobs that require lifting, twisting, or sitting for prolonged periods are more likely to develop sciatica.
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
Chiropractic adjustments will return the vertebrae in your back to their natural position. This can alleviate pressure on the sciatic nerve. Our chiropractor may also recommend corrective exercises that will further reduce your pain and minimize your chances of developing sciatica again in the future. Our chiropractor will assess your musculoskeletal system to identify the root cause of your sciatic nerve pain. Once the source of your discomfort has been determined, we will create a chiropractic care plan to address it.
Lower Back Pain Treatment in Bangor, ME and Ellsworth, ME
If you are looking for sciatica treatment in Ellsworth, ME, or Bangor, ME, contact Back in Balance Wellness Center today.
