Ugh! How do you stop sciatic nerve pain? Sciatic nerve pain, or just plain sciatica, radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve. It either affects your right or left side and branches down from your lower back through your hips and buttock down your leg.
There are many ways to prevent sciatic nerve pain. But, we’re guessing that you are reading this article because you are already suffering. Perhaps you are looking for a way to get relief. We hope you find this article informative because treating sciatic nerve pain is what we do.
If you think you have sciatic nerve pain, first consult your chiropractor, doctor, or a back pain specialist. They can help to determine if this is the issue or if it is something else. There are other conditions that can have the same effect, such as:
- A joint problem in the spine
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Piriformis syndrome
These symptoms can all feel like sciatic nerve pain, so we advise that you get a proper diagnosis first.
How we stop sciatic nerve pain
We have multiple approaches to stopping sciatic nerve pain. Our doctors assess the severity of the affected area, then create a plan for treatment. Some cases don’t require multiple methods while others may benefit from a combination of our treatment protocols. One thing is for certain, we try everything we can to stop sciatic nerve pain so our patients can get back to a normal, productive lifestyle. The protocols we use are:
Chiropractic adjustments
Chiropractic care helps alleviate sciatic nerve pain. It does this by opening up the cavities between the spinal discs to allow for blood flow and relieve pressure on the nerve.
Massage therapy
When it comes to sciatica, massage therapy can help in two ways. The main benefit is soothing tense muscles. When your muscles are tense, they can put pressure on your sciatic nerve. Massaging these tense muscles may help to reduce pressure which helps reduce pain.
Spinal decompression
Spinal decompression therapy provides very effective, non-invasive relief for sciatica by taking a direct approach to treating damaged spinal discs. This medication-free treatment uses a kind of motorized traction to stretch the spine and relieve pressure from damaged discs, allowing for the retraction of herniation and uncomfortable bulges.
Active Release Technique® (ART)
Active Release Technique® is a form of soft tissue manipulation that uses the practitioner’s hands to target tight muscles and loosen and lengthen them by trigger pointing while actively putting the body through motion. This technique is highly successful in treating pinched sciatic nerves.
Our clinic will meet with you and first determine if it is sciatic nerve pain that you suffer from. If so, our doctors create a plan for recovery that may utilize multiple protocols. The goal is to get rid of your sciatic pain altogether based on the severity.
What causes sciatic nerve pain?
Many of our patients that suffer from sciatic nerve pain tend to be between 30 and 50 years old. They also tend to sit in front of a desk for long hours. This lifestyle contributes to the likelihood of sciatic pain as well as many other common back problems. Being static for long periods of time is hard on the body. Especially as you get older.
Pain is caused by the nerve being pinched. Herniated disks, bone spurs on the spine, or spinal stenosis can compress the sciatic nerve. These are the most common issues that cause pain and inflammation. Sometimes it can even cause numbness.
Sometimes pain associated with sciatica can be severe, but most cases can be treated in a few weeks. If you are having significant leg weakness or bowel or bladder changes, you may be a candidate for surgery. However, we suggest trying a non-surgical method first. This way, you can avoid invasive surgery that cannot be reversed and/or reliance on medications for pain management.
There are also treatments that you may be able to try right now, in your own home. For example, we’ve educated many of our patients about trying a Lacrosse ball to help treat sciatica pain. This simple solution allows you to massage your affected areas and at least help to manage pain caused by sciatica pinching.
The good news is that most of the time, sciatic nerve pain will get better without surgery. As long as you get on a good treatment plan and stick with it, you can overcome it.