Typically, sciatica pain can be relieved in as few as four trips to the chiropractor. Let’s take a look at sciatica and what chiropractic treatments can do to relieve this pain.

How Many Times Should You See A Chiropractor For Sciatica Pain?

Most chiropractors will focus on treating this pain with as few treatments as possible. As mentioned above, most chiropractors recommend four visits to relieve this pain.

During the treatment sessions, chiropractors will recommend some basic exercises that you can do at home. These exercises can help to stop the symptoms from returning.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica impacts more than three million people in the U.S. and can cause constant pain and nerve damage that starts in the spine and shoots down the rear portion of the leg. However, chiropractic care can help.

The longest nerve in the human body it is a group of five nerves exiting from the lumbar spine and sacral foramen. They group together in the muscles of the buttocks and form a sciatic nerve that travels down each leg. The sciatic nerve provides strength to the legs and connects with major muscle groups and the spinal cord. When the nerve is impaired, numbness, pain and weakness may result.

Sciatica Symptoms Vs. Diagnosis

Sciatica is really a set of symptoms as opposed to a diagnosis. Here are some of the symptoms to look for:

Piriformis syndrome (muscle in the buttocks becomes tight or spasms), spondylolisthesis (slippage of a vertebra, narrowing the nerve exit), general wear and tear on the lower spine, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal creates pressure on nerves), slipped or herniated discs (the most common cause.)

Chiropractic Treatments For Sciatica

Chiropractic care and adjustments are a viable option for treating the pain and symptoms associated with sciatic nerve issues. A 2006 study published in Spine found that manipulations (adjustments) helped relieve pain due to acute back pain and sciatica.

Another study published in 2010 found that sixty percent of sciatica patients (who hadn’t found relief from other therapies) experienced the same level of relief from chiropractic adjustments as patients who eventually had surgery.

A recent study by the American College of Physicians listed these four things as the first line of defense against lower back pain:

• Applying heat.
• Manipulation.
• Massage.
• Acupuncture.

There are very few side effects of chiropractic treatments for sciatica. Medication, meanwhile, can come with many side effects, especially after prolonged use. Additionally, chiropractic visits can lessen your reliance on painkillers.