Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?

Chiropractors can help people suffering from many different types of conditions, including sciatica. Sciatica is a common problem that often involves lower back pain that travels down the leg. This can sometimes include numbness, tingling, and weakness in leg, foot and toes. Chiropractors can definitely help with this condition. In this blog post we will discuss what causes sciatica, things that can look sciatica, how chiropractors can help you if you are suffering from sciatica or a similar condition.

Soft tissue therapy as part of treatment with a chiropractor

What is sciatica?

• Lower back pain with pain and other sensations going down one or both legs

• Numbness and tingling of the legs are common sensation changes that can often affect the leg, foot and toes

• Weakness of the foot or leg is a concerning sign sign associated with sciatica and should be evaluated immediately

• If there sciatica and losses to bowel or bladder control, numbness and tingling around the genitals or anus, go to the emergency room immediately. This is called cauda equina syndrome and should be treated immediately so that it does not become permanent.

Sciatica is not a condition itself, but the presentation of lower back pain with leg pain and other symptoms. Consulting a chiropractor can help to better understand what might be causing your sciatica and how to treat it going forward.

What causes sciatica?

• The sciatic nerve is made up by the nerve roots of the L3, L4, L5 and S1 spinal nerves. This nerve exits the pelvic basin via the sciatic notch and runs down through the posterior hip, thigh and entire lower leg, foot and toes.

• When there is something that compresses the sciatic nerve, sciatica will often occur. Symptoms include, back pain, leg pain, numbness and tingling and weakness

• The most common cause of cause of nerve compression and sciatica is when there is a disc bulge, herniation or protrusion pressing on one of the nerve roots at one of the levels listed above

• Another potential cause of sciatica is tight muscles around the back of the hip, like the piriformis, which can create pressure on the sciatic nerve that can be painful and symptomatic.

• There is another syndrome involving back pain and leg pain, which is can be called sciatica, which is a myofascial pain syndrome. This is when muscles can be so painful and tight that they spread pain to other parts of the body. When muscles in the back and hip are very tight, they often send pain down the leg.

Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?

• Chiropractors are highly qualified to treat sciatica. They have extensive training in the anatomy and function of the reasons as well a clinical reasoning to get to the root of the issue causing the sciatica

• Chiropractic adjustments can improve the movement and space available in the lumbar spine region, reducing pressure and freeing up space in the lumbar spine.

• Soft tissue therapy provided by chiropractors can reduce muscle pain and tension that compresses the sciatic nerve and also the myofacial pain mentioned above.

• Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and dry needling can also reduce some of the pressure and pain caused by muscle tension and inflammation, which are major factors in low back pain and sciatica.

• Exercises given by chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists are often designed to target potential causes of sciatica. These exercises can reduce pressure in disc, tension of the muscle and mobility of the sciatic nerve itself. Other exercises can be given to build stability and resilience to the factors that lead to causes of sciatica

  
  

Electroacupuncture as part of treatment with a chiropractor

How to find a chiropractor who can help with sciatica

In Ottawa, there are many options, but at integrate healthcare collective, we see ourselves as a great choice for those suffering with sciatica and other conditions related to low back pain. Here's why:

• We work as a team with chiropractors, physiotherapists, medical doctors, massage therapists, acupuncturists and osteopaths all collaborating on different cases for the beset outcomes

• We have multiple tools to treat conditions. Chiropractors at integrate often use acupuncture, soft tissue therapy, adjustments, exercise and good advice to help people find relief in the short amount of time and fewest visits possible.

• We have same week availability with our chiropractors, including appointments in the early morning and evenings

• Our chiropractors have extensive experience treating sciatica and other conditions

• We have online booking at https://oc3.janeapp.com/

• Our staff is friendly and happy to help whenever you call. to book an appointment to ask questions

If you are looking for a chiropractor in Ottawa to help with sciatica or other types of conditions, please contact use at 613-230-7891 (for appointments in centretown and Carleton Place), 613-852-7769 (for appointments in lowertown)