If you have a piercing, shooting pain that begins in your lower back and radiates through your leg and foot, you may be suffering from sciatica pain. The largest nerve in the human body is the sciatic nerve. However, the nerve can cause pain if you have a disc herniation or a trapped nerve. There are many things that can trigger sciatic pain. The good news is that a chiropractor, such as Brad Kern, can help with sciatic pain, especially if it has become debilitating. Read on to learn about the various techniques chiropractors can perform to relieve pain naturally without side effects.
Chiropractic Techniques to Treat Sciatica
There are various ways a chiropractor can treat sciatica pain. First, you should know that chiropractic care will begin with an examination and a review of your medical history to determine what is causing your pain. Chiropractic techniques assist the body in healing itself without invasive procedures.
Massage Therapy
A chiropractic massage is an intense method of treating sciatica. It can release endorphins via deep muscle relaxation. Regular spa massages may indeed help you with tension and sore muscles, but chiropractic massage is geared toward healing sciatica. Chiropractors are knowledgeable about the entire musculoskeletal system in the human body, which means they know the exact points to apply pressure.
Heat and Cold Therapy
Alternating between cold and heat therapy can provide much-needed relief from sciatica pain. Heat can be used to relieve tight muscles and cold therapy can reduce blood flow to help with inflammation. Chiropractors already understand the treatment that best suits you, and whether or not they should use both.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is gentle heat and is produced by sound waves. These sound waves penetrate deep into the tissues of the body. It can help with improving circulation, thus promoting healing. It can also reduce muscle spasms, swelling, pain, and cramping. Another technique that a chiropractor can use to reduce sciatica pain is cold laser therapy. It promotes healing by reducing swelling and irritation. Additionally, chiropractors can utilize the TENS unit, which is a small, battery-powered device that stimulates the nerves to help reduce muscle spasms and pain.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Spinal manipulations or adjustments can also be performed. If you have a herniated disc, these adjustments will allow it to rest back in a position that will release pressure from the sciatic nerve. These adjustments can also help with limited spinal movement and aid in rehabilitating vertebral discs that are misaligned.
Spinal Decompression
It is possible for the discs in your spine to become thinner and dry out over time, resulting in pinched nerves and more. Spinal decompression can relieve nerve compression that is causing your sciatica pain. There are various techniques that chiropractors can use to lengthen the spine.
Lifestyle Changes
Chiropractors will examine every aspect of your life and make recommendations on sitting, sleeping, and standing to help protect the positioning of the sciatic nerve. These recommendations can also help you strengthen your back muscles to ensure the disc remains in place. These techniques are critical to follow because the stronger your back is, the less likely it is for these discs to slip again.
