How our Geelong Chiropractors can help your Sciatica!

WHAT IS SCIATICA or SCIATIC NERVE PAIN

Sciatica is a common condition that we see in our Geelong Clinic. Most patients who come to us with Sciatica will be experiencing an irritating pain that can start in their lower back, refer pain into the buttocks and even run down the leg into the feet and toes.

The Sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and runs from your lower back all the way down to your feet and toes, when it gets compressed or irritated it can cause pain down the entire chain that it runs (lower back to feet).

Sciatica can affect daily activities, such as walking sitting and standing and symptoms can worsen depending on the severity of inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

IMAGE OF SCIATIC NERVE 

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of Sciatica its time to seek Chiropractic treatment

• Persistent lower back pain.
• SIJ pain (pain in the small dimples in your lower back)
• Pain in your buttocks or lower back that is worsened when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg making normal movement difficult
• Weakness, numbness, into your leg and foot inhibiting regular movement
• A sharp and shooting pain that makes it hard to stand up or walk.

WHAT CAUSES SCIATICA

There may be many different underlying causes for your Sciatic pain, Our Geelong Chiropractors will help diagnose the cause of your pain so that treatment is tailored to you.

Some of the causes include.

• Disc Bulge (herniated disc, pressing on the Sciatic nerve)
• Neurogenic / Vascular Claudication (Subtle compression of the spinal cord, nerve roots or vascular structures in the lower back and legs, typically can be worse with exercise/exertion)
• Central Canal Stenosis (Occurs when the space between the vertebrae or spinal cord narrows,  the vertebrae/disc can apply pressure on the spinal cord that can then cause sciatica)
• Piriformis Syndrome (The Piriformis muscle is a muscle in your buttock that runs over your sciatic nerve, when irritated it can compress your sciatic nerve and results in compression/inflammation)
• Peripheral Nerve Entrapment (Where the nerve becomes compressed, or entrapped, between two other structures in the body)

CHIROPRACTIC SCIATICA TREATMENT

Our Geelong Chiropractors can help treat your Sciatic Nerve pain with a range of different treatments:

• Manual Adjustments to the lower back joints and discs help to stretch open the spaces where the nerve is being compressed and irritated.
• Massage and muscle release techniques around the irritated spinal level and nerve or around the area where the nerve is being compressed in the buttock or leg.
• Assisted nerve flossing techniques to help untrap the nerve along its course and active release therapy to help release nerve entrapment.
• Recommendation of at-home care and stretching

An important at-home exercise is what we refer to as Nerve flossing. Nerve Flossing is an exercise that will help to mobilise (floss) the sciatic nerve along the entire chain that it runs. This gentle exercise will help to stretch and restore normal movement and function to the nerve, helping to relieve pain and irritation. It’s safe to do at home daily as a part of your at-home care and doesn’t involve any equipment. Watch the video below to learn more.

SCIATICA STRETCHES FOR PAIN RELIEF

An important part of care and recovery is being proactive with your at-home care.

Watch our video below to find out our 3 favourite stretches that will help relieve your Sciatic pain at home.

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