Chiropractic is Best Treatment For Sciatica

Chiropractic is Best Treatment For Sciatica

Q; What exactly is sciatica, and what is the best treatment for it?

A: Sciatica is the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the largest and longest nerve in the body. Burning, sharp , piercing pain is the most common symptom felt in the low back extending to any part of the leg calf or foot. The sciatic nerve branches out and controls the organs in the pelvis including the reproductive system, bladder, kidneys and prostate. Abnormal symptoms caused by irritation from this large nerve may originally be in one of these organs or tissues,arrise in the low back,legs or even the toes.You don't have to have pain running down your leg to have sciatica. Once irritated, coughing,sneezing sitting, standing or any basic movement can re-initate symptoms.

Sciatica can frequently be caused by the misalignment of the joints of the spinal bones in the low back or pelvis, called vertebral subluxations. these misaligned spinal bones create pressure, choking on the nerves. This obviously interfereswith the sciatic nerve's function. If the joint misalignment is left uncorrected, degeneration can begin to occur.

In the past, long periods of bed rest were commonly prescribed for sciatic pain and malfunction. Recent studies have confirmed that lengthy bed rest is a waste of time and may interferewith healing. Another common prescription, epidural injections, does not help patients suffering from sciatica, either. Researchers in Germany did a six month study published this year in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. These researchers found that spinal corticosteroid injections do not help patients with sciatica improve any faster than those not given such injections.

What does seem to be the correct prescription is conservative chiropractic adjustments to realign the misaligned vertebrae. According to the recently released united states agency fo Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines, "relief or discomfort can be accomplished most safely" with chiropractic adjustments.

Sciatica is a horrible experience and it doesn't just go away, even if the symptoms are dormant. Chiropractic care (sometimes coupled with simple exercises) nomalizes the joint mobility, corrects the vertebral subluxation and takes pressure off the sciatic nerve.

correction of your sciatica could be as close as a call to your nearest chiropractor.