If you’ve ever had sciatica, you know it’s not a pain you can easily ignore. The sciatic nerve originates in the spine from the lower back, runs through the buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica is a condition that causes pain, burning or tingling along the course of the nerve that can worsen with certain movements, such as standing, sitting, or squatting. Along with pain, sciatic may have other symptoms such as:
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Difficulty moving the affected foot or leg
- In some rare cases, sciatica can affect both sides of the body
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What Are My Relief Options?
A visit to your family medical doctor when you’re having a bout with sciatica will usually yield a fairly predictable course of action. The first step is often over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, such as Advil, to try to reduce swelling and pain. In more severe cases, prescription muscle relaxants or steroids may be used. If the sciatica is a result of a herniated or degenerated disc in the lower back, surgery might be recommended.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and lower back pain and sciatica download our complimentary e-book
Is There a Natural Alternative?
If you’re looking for a natural approach to relieving sciatica or just wanted to try a safe and conservative route before resorting to medications and possible surgical intervention, then we might be able to help you. Upper cervical chiropractic care may give you lasting relief from lower back pain and sciatica by identifying the area of the spine that is causing everything else to shift out of balance.
We know it might seem strange to address a lower back issue by starting with the neck, but the truth is the entire spine is linked. A small shift of the atlas vertebra at the top of the neck creates a domino effect down the spine, causing distortions in your posture, muscle spasms, and compensations throughout.
Once the head is realigned normally over the body and compensation is no longer necessary, the pressure from the sciatic nerve is released, and the healing process can begin. Our thorough evaluation process will identify if an atlas misalignment is a contributing factor in your sciatica, and if so, our gentle adjustment will help your body to restore normal alignment and normal nervous system function.
Reference:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/basics/definition/con-20026478
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Lucas Watterson or Dr. Amy Watterson call our Morgantown office at 304-244-1817 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
