While exercise can leave your body sore, pain that lasts more than a couple of days isn’t normal. So you must see a medical professional that specializes in the area of the body where your pain radiates from.
If you’re experiencing pain in your lower body, then you can visit your local chiropractor to determine if these are symptoms of sciatica.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve is compressed by the muscles surrounding it. The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the body that extends from the lower end of the spinal cord, down the back of your thigh, dividing above the knee joint, and reaching the heel and sole.
Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatica will typically affect only one side of the body and lead to severe pain in the lower back, hips, glutes, and radiating down the leg. The pain can range from intense and sharp to a dull, mild aching, depending on the patient. You will also notice that the pain will worsen when you are inactive or sitting for extended periods.
While pain is the main symptom, this condition can also lead to:
- Burning sensation
- Tingling
- Numbness
How long will sciatica symptoms last? The answer will depend on what’s causing muscle compression on your sciatic nerve. It can resolve itself in as little as one to two weeks but can also be a chronic condition from which you will suffer for many years.
Causes of Sciatica
Sciatica results from the compression of the sciatic nerve; therefore, some of the things that can cause the nerve undue stress or damage include:
- Herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Strain
- Overuse
- Trauma
Treatments For Sciatica
If your sciatica is due to your sedentary lifestyle, becoming more active can help alleviate your pain and resolve your symptoms. In more severe cases, the ideal treatment is following a care plan of exercise rehabilitation, home care regimens focused on muscle stretches, yoga poses, ice therapy, and heat therapy.
Other treatments include:
- Spinal decompression. This technique is an effective, non-surgical treatment used to alleviate pain using traction to relieve the pressure off of compressed spinal discs that can affect the sciatic nerve.
- Spinal manipulation and soft tissue therapy. These techniques are used to increase range-of-motion at the joint space when they become stiff. In addition, through muscle manipulation therapy, the scar tissue is broken down to minimize spasms in the muscle. Avoiding scar build-up and inflammation after injuries will prevent compression on the sciatic nerve.
Spine Health & Wellness Treats Sciatica
Spine Health & Wellness understands how difficult severe pain can make your day. We are dedicated to providing you with comprehensive and conservative treatments to benefit your overall health and well-being.
Whether your pain is due to sciatica, disc issues, whiplash, or problems in your neck and back, our experts are trained to diagnose the cause of your pain successfully. In addition, they will be glad to offer customized treatment plans for your unique condition.
Request an appointment today at one of our North Texas locations online or by calling (972) 994-6060.