By Linda Shayna Eschmeyer


Many people suffer and experience pain radiating from the lower spine into the buttocks and down the back of one leg which is called sciatica. Discomfort may be felt anywhere along the path of the sciatic nerve but is most likely to appear in the aforementioned areas. Pain can range from mild aching, to throbbing to a burning that can only be described as excruciating. Though many patients are treated by traditional medicine, some continue to experience discomfort, causing them to seek alternative care.

This condition is noted when the sciatic nerve is pinched. A herniated or protruding disk in the spine is usually to blame. In very rare cases, a tumor may compress the nerve or a disease such as diabetes may damage it. Therefore, it is important to not take sciatic nerve pain lightly and consult a specialist if it persists or reoccurs to any degree. Factors of age, body weight and conditioning, and lifestyle activities can increase risk of developing this condition.

Sciatic nerve pain sometimes feels like an electric sharp jolt and may worsen if the sufferer sneezes or coughs without bracing their body. People who have to sit for prolonged periods can aggravate symptoms. Sciatica usually affects only one side of the body. The symptoms of this condition can vary and some people experience muscle weakness or a sensation of tingling or numbness in the affected foot or leg. In addition, while pain may be experienced in one part of the leg, another part may feel numb. Cold treatments and a period of decreased activity may relieve mild forms of this condition but if pain worsens or lasts for longer than one week, professional attention is recommended.

Traditional treatment involves prescription medication including anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, and some types of narcotics. Steroid injections may be recommended to suppress inflammation around the affected nerve root. The most severe cases may be treated by surgery to remove a portion of a herniated disk or extract a bone spur. These treatments have side effects ranging from mild to potentially severe.

Physical medicine is often recommended once initial pain improves. Programs of rehabilitation include exercises that strengthen muscles that support the back, create flexibility and correct posture. An alternative therapy involving the insertion of very thin needles into the skin at specific locations on the body, called acupuncture, is sometimes utilized.

Medical management is not effective for all patients suffering from sciatic nerve pain. Spinal manipulation is an alternative therapy administered by a doctor of chiropractic According to research published in the October 2010 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 60 percent of patients with sciatica who failed other medical procedures received the same degree of improvement from spinal manipulation as if they had undergone surgical intervention.

When traditional treatments for sciatica fail, patients are encouraged to explore chiropractic treatment before committing to surgery. Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive treatment that is cost-effective. According to scientific research, chiropractic treatment helps as many as 90 percent of patients with sciatica. These individuals may get the same level of relief that surgery provides without the complications of side effects.




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