The Truth about Sciatica

Ongoing pain in the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica. The sciatic nerve runs all the way down one's lower body, from the edge of the back to the bottom of the legs. The sciatic nerve is the lengthiest one in the body, covering territory all the way from the back through the legs. Being the longest nerve, it has a lot of responsibility in the body. It modulates lower leg muscles, enabling us to have feeling in the legs and feet.

Sciatica, a form of leg and lower back pain, affects many people and is not well-understood. Instead of grouping all nerve pain into a general diagnosis of sciatica, in actuality it refers to a set of particular symptoms. People in their thirties through fifties most often mention having symptoms of sciatica. People with sciatica usually exhibit lower spine problems that have grown worse over time. An injury is usually not the cause of sciatica.

Sciatica Symptoms
Sufferers report pain all the way down the sciatic nerve, from the bottom of the back to the bottom of the legs. Nevertheless, there are multiple symptoms associated with sciatica; it just depends on which part of the sciatic nerve is most affected. Sciatica pain manifests itself in many ways: one may feel weakness in the muscles, a tingling sensation, burning, aches, or numbness. Just one side of the body is usually affected. Another symptom patients have reported is a “pins and needles” sensation in the foot.

The symptoms start off minor, but the discomfort and pain intensifies as time goes on. Illness or sudden movements can increase the amount of pain one feels with sciatica. For example, sneezing or coughing can provoke pain, as well as turning or bending suddenly after having been sitting for awhile.

A Sciatica Diagnosis
Your medical profile must be thoroughly evaluated by a doctor in order to determine if you have sciatica. The chiropractor starts by reviewing your medical history. Then your doctor will ask for both physical and neurological exams that especially deal with the spine and legs. It is very important to accurately describe the pain – when it began, the times it gets worse, and what makes it stop. Often, the chiropractor will test you by asking you to complete everyday tasks. These activities will test your muscle strength, reflexes, and sensory response. Included among these tasks are easy motions like lying on an exam table and taking turns lifting each leg in the air.

Your chiropractor may advise the use of diagnostic imaging tests like an X-ray, CT scan or MRI. These tests are good tools for gauging if there is something significantly more dangerous happening (for example, a tumor or serious infection). They are also helpful for people with symptoms that are more severe, as well as those that show no signs of improvement after initial treatment.

Your Options
Sciatica sufferers who partake in general, conservative treatment usually respond favorably. Because sciatica is a series of symptoms, the suggested course of treatment will depend on the root cause of the problem.

Chiropractic care enables you to be treated without drugs or surgery. Chiropractic care tries to fix spinal motion, making sure it is functioning correctly while alleviating inflammation and discomfort. Various causes of sciatica dictate the use of various treatments. Some chiropractors use numerous methods of treatment including exercises that rehabilitate, adjustments of the spine, and ice and/or heat therapy.

Care to Prevent Sciatica
Often, one can keep the symptoms of sciatica at bay by making sure the spine stays healthy and taking care of the back. These can help:

• Exercise regularly
  
• Make sure not to smoke
  
• Maintain good posture
  
• Eat well and stay at a healthy weight
  
• Focus on the body's movement while lifting weight
  
• Keeping active
  
  

Again, sciatica deals with symptoms that occur on the sciatic nerve. To figure out your best course of treatment, your chiropractor checks out your symptoms and evaluates your medical history and lifestyle. Call your chiropractor to find out more about sciatica and how to treat it. Then you can discover the best treatment for you.