Can a Chiropractor Treat My Sciatica?

If you are suffering from sciatica nerve pain, you may be wondering if a doctor of chiropractic medicine can successfully treat it. Chiropractors advocate for non-invasive medical treatments whenever it is possible to successfully treat the patient without surgery. If you are hurting from what you believe is sciatica pain, we encourage you to call and schedule an exam with a doctor of chiropractic medicine. They can then recommend a treatment plan that may be able to resolve your pain issues and help you recover full health.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is the pain that starts in the buttock or lower back and extends into the leg or both legs. The pain is often inconsistent in intensity, duration, frequency, and location. Many people describe the pain as needle-like. Symptoms can also include feeling a burning sensation, numbness, or tingling.

What causes sciatica pain?

After an exam and diagnosis of your condition, a doctor of chiropractic medicine can determine what is causing your sciatica pain. Usually it’s nerve compression, with some of the more common causes being one of the following:

-A misaligned vertebral body (also known as lumbar spine subluxation).
-Bulging or herniated disc (also known as a slipped disc).
-Childbirth or pregnancy.
-Diabetes, sitting on hard objects, constipation or other non-spinal disorders.
-Tumor or tumors.
-Injury to the piriformis muscle (also known as piriformis syndrome).

Eliminating or Reducing Sciatic Pain using Chiropractic Treatments

Chiroprators have a deep understanding of how the body has the potential to heal itself without the intervention of drugs and surgery. When the spine is able to move naturally and unrestricted, it can free the body from experiencing pain and increase the ability to perform as it should. Your doctor of chiropractic medicine can determine which treatments are best for you based on your condition and circumstances. Your doctor may recommend any combination of the following treatments:

1. Ice or cold therapy. This can help reduce swelling, inflammation, and sciatic pain. You can use this therapy on your own while at home or work.
2. Ultrasound. This treatment is provided in our office. It is a method of using sound waves to penetrate the body’s tissues. The result can be an increase in blood circulation which in turn can reduce muscle spasms, pain, stiffness, swelling, and cramping.
3. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Using a small, battery-powered machine, your doctor of chiropractic medicine use electrical current to stimulate specific muscles. TENS therapy can reduce muscle spasms and control acute pain. Smaller units are also available for home use.
4. Spinal manipulation adjustments. Doctors can perform adjustments on your spine to increase spinal movement and realign vertebrae that are causing pain. These adjustments can also reduce nerve irritability, muscle spasms, inflammation, and other symptoms associated with sciatica pain.

Call for an Appointment

To determine if you are suffering from sciatica or from another issue that may be causing you pain, call us for an appointment with a doctor of chiropractic medicine on our staff. After a comprehensive exam you may be able to undergo simple treatments to address the underlying cause of your pain. Call today to make an appointment with a trusted doctor of chiropractic medicine such as the chiropractor Gaithersburg, MD locals trust to get back on the road to good health.

Thanks to authors at Pain Arthritis Relief Center for their insight into Chiropractic Care.