Sciatica impacts more than three million people in the US and can cause constant pain and nerve damage that starts in the spine and shoots down the rear portion of the leg. However chirpractic care can help. read on to learn more.

What Is The Sciatic Nerve?

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.

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.)

Risk Factors

As we get older, risk increases for sciatic nerve issues due to age-related changes in the spine.  Obesity also can increase risk, as excess weight can contribute to spinal changes. Diabetes increases risk of nerve damage, and is another risk factor for sciatica. Other lifestyle factors such as occupation and prolonged sitting can play a role in the development of sciatica.

Research

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.

Source: https://www.chiroone.net/how-chiropractic-helps/sciatica