Sciatica refers to an inflammation or pressure reaction of the sciatic nerve. Generally the sciatic nerve is put under pressure from a bulging or herniated disc, but a tight or spasming piriformis muscle can also cause a bout of sciatic pain.
Symptoms
Sciatic pain generally starts in the low back and causes a pinching discomfort across the buttock. This pain can also extend down one leg or both legs. Sciatica often present as numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness in the lower leg muscles. Sitting can cause muscle spasms, so many with sciatic discomfort, prefer to stand or lie down. Sciatic pain can run the gamut from mild discomfort to excruciating pain.
Treatment
Your treatment specialist from Denver Integrated Spine Center can treat your Sciatica in a variety of ways. They may start with basic stretching exercises and manipulation in an effort to reduce the acute pain. Massage therapy can also be used as an alternative therapy to help reduce the muscle spasms and pain, that accompany sciatic type of pains.
Other treatments include spinal decompression, to take pressure off the bulging disc and thus the nerve, as well as flexion distraction treatment. Flexion distraction treatment is a gentle and generally smooth, comfortable method of spinal flexing that involves having you lay on your tummy.
While your legs are fully supported, your feet will be lowered a short distance while the chiropractor applies pressure in an upward direction. This both lowers the muscle tension in your low back and reduces the pressure on the bulging disc. Many sufferers of sciatic pain find flexion distraction therapy to be a very comfortable, calming therapy.
Long Term Treatment Options
Once the extreme pain and pressure of the initial sciatic flare-up is addressed, it’s crucial that anyone suffering from this pain talk with the chiropractor or physical therapist about stabilization techniques and core stability. The bulging disc could have a tendency to reoccur if the core stabilizers aren’t properly engaged, this is why proper care is vital after a flare up. Regular stretching and strengthening of the muscles of the low back will also prevent future flare-ups.
Final Thoughts
Sciatic nerve pain can cause a great deal of discomfort and really effect your normal daily activities. Working with the team at the Denver Integrated Spine Center will help to reduce your current symptoms, but they will then work with you so this doesn’t become a recurrent issue moving forward.
Call us at (303) 758-9000 today!