Burning, lancing, stabbing – these are all ways to describe the terrible pain of sciatica. Sciatica refers to pain that occurs along the course of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the back of each leg. In really bad cases, the affected leg might become numb or even weak.
There can be many causes of sciatica, but far and away, the most common three are as follows:
- Disc herniation
- Osteophytes (bone spurs)
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
No two sciatica cases are exactly alike. Walking might give some people relief while sitting is painful, or it can be the complete opposite. Regardless, if you’ve experienced the pain of sciatica, you’ve found yourself looking for relief. While medications may take the edge off the pain temporarily, if there’s a spinal issue, the results won’t last.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and lower back pain and sciatica download our complimentary e-book
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Look to the Neck for The Cause of Low Back Pain
The entire spine is connected by a series of joints, discs, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A problem in one part of the spine will, sooner or later, impact other areas of the spine.
The most common pattern we see is that a misalignment in the upper part of the neck will start a domino effect of compensations throughout the spine and ultimately cause muscle spasm and unequal tension on the lower back.
Many times in our practice, we see patients who have had various types of relief care on the lower back to try and get relief from sciatica. The one thing that these people have in common is a specific misalignment of the uppermost vertebra in the neck, the atlas. Because the atlas has the most range of motion of all of the other vertebrae in the spine, it is more vulnerable to misalignment. This is what sets off the compensation in the lower back, leading to sciatica. Correcting the atlas is correcting the problem at the root.
Given enough time for the body to heal, maintaining normal atlas alignment can allow for those compensations to clear up naturally, relieving the tension on the lower back and sciatic nerve. This is what will give you the lasting relief you’ve been looking for.
References:
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/musculoskeletal-and-connective-tissue-disorders/neck-and-back-pain/sciatica
To schedule a 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.
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