Up to 40% of people develop sciatica during their lifetime, according to Harvard Health Publishing. If you’re struggling with frequent sciatica pain and tingling in your lower back and legs, the team at Magnolia Comfort Medical, LLC, can help relieve your discomfort at their office in Norcross, Georgia. The chiropractic team uses evidence-based therapies to alleviate pressure from your sciatic nerve without surgery or medication. To schedule an appointment, call Magnolia Comfort Medical, LLC, or book a visit online today.
Sciatica is a type of pain and discomfort that can occur when the sciatic nerve in your lower back is compressed or irritated. This typically leads to pain in one side of the lower back that radiates through the buttock and down the back of your leg.
Variable in intensity and frequency, Sciatic nerve pain can be described as dull, achy, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles, or similar to electric shock-like shooting leg pain. It is often called a radiating pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia. Some people think of Sciatica as its own disorder—however, sciatica is really a symptom of a disorder.
What causes Sciatica?
Sciatica typically occurs when a herniated disc in your spine pinches or compresses the sciatic nerve. However, some people develop sciatica due to a bone spur, an overgrowth of bone on one of the vertebrae near the nerve. Certain factors also put you at risk of sciatica, such as:
Diabetes
Diabetes increases your risk of nerve damage, which can lead to pressure and stress on the sciatic nerve.
Age
As you age, your risk of developing bone spurs or a herniated disc in your back increases.
Obesity
Carrying extra weight puts stress on your spine, which increases your risk of developing sciatica.
Office Work
An office job that requires you to sit for long periods of time can put pressure on your sciatic nerve, particularly if you don’t stretch and exercise on a regular basis.
What are the symptoms of Sciatica?
Sciatica is more than back pain, so it’s important to know the warning signs of this potentially debilitating condition. If you have sciatica, you may experience:
Pain
Numbness & Tingling
Posture Problems
Sciatica symptoms often subside when you’re walking and moving. They typically worsen when you’re sitting, coughing, sneezing, and twisting the spine.
Bladder and bowel issues
In some cases, the numbness and weakness you experience with sciatica can make it difficult to control your bladder and bowels.
Pain
Numbness & Tingling
Posture Problems
Sciatica symptoms often subside when you’re walking and moving. They typically worsen when you’re sitting, coughing, sneezing, and twisting the spine.
Bladder and bowel issues
In some cases, the numbness and weakness you experience with sciatica can make it difficult to control your bladder and bowels.
The team at Magnolia Comfort Medical, uses a comprehensive, personalized approach to sciatica treatment. Some of the techniques they may incorporate into your treatment plan include:
Physiotherapy / Chiropractic Physical Therapy
During your treatment, the team may use a combination of therapeutic stretches, exercise, massages, and dry needling to relieve your sciatica pain. For more information about that treatment, click here.
Spinal manipulation
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy with the new Erchonia Violet and Red Laser uses varying wavelengths to relieve pain and reduce inflammation around the sciatic nerve. For more information about this treatment, click here.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression therapy is a nonsurgical technique that gently stretches the spine and manipulates it to remove spinal pressure on the sciatic nerve. For more information about this treatment, click here.
For a personalized sciatica treatment plan, call the team at Magnolia Comfort Medical, LLC, or schedule an appointment online today.