Managing sciatica can be difficult. You may wonder if a chiropractor can help with sciatica. Chiropractors use physical exercises and techniques to treat issues with the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine.
Read on to find out how a chiropractor can help you manage sciatica:
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica, or sciatic pain, is a common condition that causes pain in the lower back and buttocks. Sciatica can sometimes result from an injury or illness like a misaligned vertebra.
One nerve runs through a section of tissue called the piriformis muscle outside your hip. The sciatic nerve runs down through this muscle and attaches to your lower back area. There, it transmits signals to various muscles and organs throughout your body.
If you have sciatica, you may experience tingling or burning sensations that radiate into your leg muscles. You may experience this sensation when you walk or sit for long periods.
Many things can cause sciatica, including:
- A herniated disc: This is when one or more bones in the spine have deviated from their normal position, causing pressure on nerve roots.
- An abnormal spinal curve(scoliosis): Scoliosis occurs when there's too much curvature at one or more of your vertebrae. It is often inherited but may also occur due to injury or disease.
- Muscle spasms that affect the nerves (neurogenic): These are temporary issues with muscles and the nervous system rather than discs or other structures inside your body. This type of sciatica tends to be more severe than other forms of sciatica.
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
Chiropractic treatment may help reduce pain, improve overall health, and help you resume normal activities. Chiropractors are experts in the field of spinal care. They diagnose and treat a variety of conditions in the spine that can cause pain or discomfort. They treat sciatica with spinal manipulation and the working of the soft tissue.
These professionals use gentle adjustments to realign your vertebrae, which eases discomfort. They achieve this through soft manipulation of joints or muscles that are out of place.
Chiropractic treatment emphasizes holistic approaches, like physical movement and healthy living, for treatment. This treatment may work well on its own but can be used in addition to other treatments, including physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications.
Chiropractors can identify many types of injuries to the spine that can cause sciatica. Injuries may include degenerative disc disease (herniated disc), protrusion, or bony spurs on a vertebra (spondylolisthesis). Another condition may be stenosis at an intervertebral segment, causing nerve impingement on nerves that supply sensation.
If you have a disc problem (nerve root entrapment), chiropractic therapy might help reduce inflammation and relieve your symptoms. If there is something structurally wrong with your spine, visit a chiropractor who has experience treating this type of injury.
An experienced chiropractor may pinpoint what's causing your discomfort and suggest an appropriate treatment plan based on their findings.
Book an Appointment
If you have sciatica and are in pain, your chiropractor can recommend several treatments to help alleviate your symptoms. Visit for an examination and therapy. A chiropractor may help you manage sciatica and back pain.
