Chiropractic For Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body. If you’ve ever had sciatica, you know how painful and debilitating it can be. Sciatica is often characterized by pain radiating from the back into the buttocks and into the legs. Inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve can cause pain anywhere along the path of the nerve, which includes the low back, buttocks, the back of the legs and thighs, and in some cases it can be felt in the foot and ankle.

How does a nerve, like the sciatic nerve, become inflamed? Sciatica is often the result of cumulative damage. Years of bad posture, deconditioned muscles, and carrying “a few extra pounds” are all contributing factors to this horrible condition. Something as simple as bending over to tie your shoes can trigger an episode.

Let’s take a look at how the sciatic nerve is formed in your body. Like a large river created by smaller streams, five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form two sciatic nerves (one in each leg). A bulging or herniated disc in the lumbar spine (low back) may press against the nerve roots that supply the sciatic nerve. The result is swelling, inflammation, and pain that is felt when coughing, sneezing, or with certain movements.

Spinal decay can be another culprit. Instability in the low back over time leads to the degeneration of not only the soft, pulpy disc, but also leads to the formation of arthritis and bone spurs. Bone spurs can intrude into the spaces normally reserved for the nerve and create the pain and inflammation associated with sciatica.

Sciatica often worsens with extended bed rest. Pain medications and muscle relaxers may relieve some symptoms, but they are unable to correct the nerve compression caused by spinal decay. Physical therapy addresses the soft tissues around the problem in an attempt to strengthen and stabilize the area, but can irritate the area from exercising unstable joints, and ignores the cause of the problem. Surgery often involves cutting away disc tissue or removing bone to make room for the nerve.

Chiropractic continues to be the best way to address the cause of sciatica. A recent study, done by the Committee on Research of the International Chiropractor’s Association, Parker Research Foundation, the Kale Network and Kale Research Center, found that with a chiropractic treatment plan: 85% of patients with sciatica showed results that were much improved, 9.4% were slightly improved, 5.1% remained the same, and 0.5% were worse.

Improving joint motion with a series of chiropractic adjustments has produced results for millions. “Before” and “after” images of the lower back often show improved disc height and spacing. Many patients report they can resume their lives and that their symptoms disappear without drugs or surgery. Chiropractic is the natural approach to relief and better health.

Don’t wait. Chiropractic care appears to have the most profound effect on sciatica when problems first occur. However, even in those who have tried to ignore this or have gone through the medical “runaround” can still get excellent results with chiropractic care. Chiropractic is the natural choice that should be made before submitting to dangerous and irreversible surgery.

Dr. Paul Early is a Chiropractor in Seattle in the Northgate area of Seattle, WA. More information can be found at his website at http://www.soundchiropractic.com