Sciatica is a problem that originates in your lower back but often causes severe, shooting leg pain. If you’re struggling with sciatica pain, Jonathan Donath, DC, and Vinh Tran, DC, CCSP, at Joint Effort Chiropractic in White Plains, New York, can help. These highly skilled chiropractors employ the most advanced techniques to resolve the cause of your sciatica and relieve your pain. To benefit from their experience, call Joint Effort Chiropractic today or book an appointment online.
Sciatica affects your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body. It runs from either side of your lower spine through your buttocks, into each thigh, and ends at your feet. Sciatica results from nerve inflammation at any point along this path.
Sharp pain that shoots through your leg is one of the main sciatica symptoms. You might also experience:
These symptoms affect your leg, and in many cases, the pain of sciatica is worse in the leg than in your lower back.
The type of discomfort you feel often indicates the location of the nerve injury or irritation. The two most common sources of nerve damage are where the sciatic nerve originates in your spine and where it passes underneath the piriformis muscle in your pelvis.
Problems with the spinal joints can result in the nerve becoming irritated or pinched as it exits your spine. It might be trapped between two bones or under a bulging or herniated disc.
Bone spurs — bony overgrowths that your body produces in response to conditions like osteoarthritis that weaken the spine — can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
The nerve could stick to the surrounding soft tissues, such as the muscles and ligaments. This is most likely to happen where the sciatic nerve meets the piriformis muscle. A healthy sciatic nerve glides smoothly within a sheath that stops it from sticking to the piriformis muscle.
Injury or repetitive strain can lead to inflammation of the piriformis muscle, which results in scar tissue formation. The bands of scar tissue (known as adhesions) bind the piriformis muscle to your sciatic nerve. Piriformis muscle spasms can also result in a pinched sciatic nerve.
Chronic piriformis muscle stiffness can result from hip or sacroiliac joint problems or anterior pelvic misalignment (pubic symphysis). Running, cycling, leg or foot trauma, prolonged sitting, pregnancy, and childbirth can all cause pubic symphysis and increase your risk of sciatica.
Joint Effort Chiropractic offers effective treatments for your condition. Chiropractic adjustments are an effective way of treating sciatica that results from joint problems or misaligned vertebrae.
Sciatica caused by a disc injury often needs supplementary treatment, such as Cox flexion/traction or the McKenzie protocol.
Another option that Joint Effort Chiropractic uses with great success is Non-surgical decompression. This painless, noninvasive treatment is the leading nonsurgical alternative for sciatica, herniated discs, and pinched nerves.
If your sciatica is due to a piriformis muscle adhesion, your chiropractor might use Active Release Techniques® (ART®) therapy. This gently detaches the nerve from the scar tissue.
All these treatments offer fast, sometimes instant relief from sciatica. To benefit from Joint Effort Chiropractic’s expertise in resolving sciatica, call the office or book an appointment online today.