SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Sciatica and Back Pain

 -

Is back pain or Sciatica making the simplest of tasks unbearable? 
Do you ever have nagging back pain that always ruins your morning? Are you suffering from achy pain that reaches into your back, buttocks, or even thigh? Are you having to watch what you do because you fear you may throw out your back? Well, you’re not alone. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, the most commonly reported pain across the nation is actually back pain. One out of every four Americans has had some form of back pain in the past three months.

Even though back pain and sciatica have noticeable differences, they are often confused with each other. Back is specific to the upper, middle or lower back. Sciatica is a more diffused, radiating pain down the buttock, thigh, and even leg. Another possible pain is radiculopathy. This is a radiating numbness, tingling, burning, or sharp sensation and or pain centered in a specific part of the leg. This is often associated with a herniated disc, or entrapment of the nerve of that area, as it leaves the spine. Get back in control with chiropractic. For many, back pain will thankfully be a fleeting. However, what many don’t know, is that the underlying problem of poor joint movement, core weakness, and poor muscle coordination, is a catalyst for future back injury, which can be significantly worse.

If you’re searching for long-term back pain relief or sciatica relief, medication that will just mask the symptoms is not the answer. Your body is telling you there is a deeper root problem that needs to be solved. What you need to know is that physical therapy should be your first treatment of choice. With PT, there is no need for harmful painkilling drugs like opioids, and can likely help you to avoid an invasive surgical procedure in the future. 

Where did my back pain or sciatica start?

General back pain develops as the result of an injury. This can be due to repetitive straining motions, such as leaning down multiple times throughout the day to pick up a toddler, or a more dangerous and sudden trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident. Underlying conditions, such as herniated discs, can also cause immense pain and cause radiculopathy pain to the thigh, leg, or foot. Degenerative disc disease, which can result in back pain is a common condition that begins to show itself as we get older. Those with this condition typically report dull, aching pains in their lower back, and have difficulty with standing or walking for long periods of time. Often, we find that people lose their flexibility in the hips and pelvis, which causes the gluteus and hip muscles to become tightened. This tightening alters the mechanics of the spine, and causes compression to the sciatic nerve as it travels through these tissues. Sciatica’s technical name is “lumbar radiculopathy.” People who develop this condition are usually between the ages of 30 and 50. Many different types of injuries can cause the development of sciatica, including arthritis, bone spurs, or any other injury that impacts the sciatic nerve.

Wondering what the difference is between back pain and sciatica? Back Pain“Back pain” is something that can be caused by a wide array of different conditions. For example, you may experience back pain because of a motor vehicle accident, a lifting injury, or even due to poor posture.
 
Back pain  - can be described as short-term, or acute, or long-term, also called, chronic (usually lasting for three months or longer).

Sciatica - Sciatica is a specific type of back pain that has been previously reported as being highly uncomfortable. But fortunately, it’s also very simple to diagnose. Those with sciatica will experience pain along the largest nerve in your body, otherwise known as their sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve begins at your lower back and then splits at the base of your spine to extend further down to your buttocks, legs, and finally to the bottom of each foot. The sciatic nerve can After becoming compressed or irritated, the nerve will cause a “shooting,” “stinging,” or “burning” sensation in your lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet.

If you are experiencing a shooting, piercing pain that runs from the lower back down to the legs, you are probably suffering from sciatica pain. The Sciatic is the longest nerve in the body running from the buttocks right down to the toes. The nerve can experience pain whenever you have a trapped nerve, disc herniation, Piriformis syndrome, or trigger point referral. Typically, symptoms of sciatica include the following:

• Leg pain that worsens when sitting
• Tingling or burning running down the leg
• Numbness, weakness, or difficulties moving the foot or entire leg
• A consistent pain on one side of your lower back
• An intense and intolerable pain that makes it hard to stand up

Get back in control with chiropractic. For many, back pain will thankfully be a fleeting. However, what many don’t know, is that the underlying problem of poor joint movement, core weakness, and poor muscle coordination, is a catalyst for future back injury, which can be significantly worse.

Back pain and sciatica are both completely treatable through physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture or massage therapy. The early stages of your treatment will focus on quick pain relief. As your pain reduces, the chiropractor, will key in more on strengthening your core muscle group with specific therapeutic exercises and stretches. With these exercises and techniques, the goal will be to increase your strength and range of motion to prevent re-injury of your spine. Last, he will teach you the ins and outs of ergonomics and ways to make sure you know how to take care of your spine in order to avoid future problems. If you are suffering from sciatica the chiropractor will prescribe specific leg stretches into your treatment plan designed to loosen the sciatic nerve. This restores your nerve’s natural health quickly reduces symptoms.

While sciatica pain can be debilitating, chiropractic treatment can relieve it gently and naturally. This care entails treating the pain without costly and harmful side effects. With that said, here is how Vitality Health Care can help with sciatica:

• Accurate Diagnosis of sciatica: Chiropractic care is founded on the basis that restricted spinal movement can lead to pain and reduced function. If you are experiencing sciatic pain, a chiropractor will examine and review your medical history to determine the cause of the pain. Chiropractic treatment helps the body heal itself with drug-free, non-invasive (non-surgical) treatment.
• Chiropractic massage therapy: The chiropractic type of massage is an intense way of relieving sciatica pain. It can induce deep muscle relaxation and release endorphins that act as natural painkillers. While regular spa massage may release sore muscles and tension, chiropractic massage is more directed toward soothing and healing sciatica. Chiropractors have knowledge of the whole musculoskeletal system of your body. They know how and where to apply pressure to ensure that the healing process kicks off.
• Heat and cold therapies: Alternating cold and heat therapy has been used by chiropractors to do wonders and provide quick relief from sciatica pain. Heat can release tight muscles and dull the agony away. Cold therapies will slow down the blood flow and help ease the symptoms of inflammation. The chiropractor understands which treatment is suitable for you, whether to use both, and how often to alternate them.
• Modalities: Other modalities that a chiropractor can use to help ease sciatica pain include low-level laser therapy also known as cold laser therapy. It enhances healing by reducing irritation, swelling or edema, and musculoskeletal pain. Furthermore, chiropractic can employ the TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit. This is a small, battery-powered nerve-stimulating device that relaxes muscle spasms, increases endorphins, and reduces pain.
• Chiropractic adjustments: A chiropractor can apply spinal manipulations to allow a herniated disc to rest back into position and take the pressure off the sciatic nerve. The adjustments can also free limited spinal movement and restore misaligned vertebral discs. This technique varies from a quick high-velocity thrust to a combination of minimal force and gentle pressure. It allows the chiropractor to gently move the lower back vertebral to avoid pressing on the sciatic nerve. This will lessen the pain as well as regain nerve signal flow and mobility. Furthermore, a chiropractor can use manipulations to ease muscle spasms, which will help with long-term relief.
• Spinal decompression: Sometimes, the discs in your spine can dry out naturally and become thinner, resulting in pinched nerves and spine compression. As the name implies, chiropractors use spinal decompression to relieve the compression of the nerves that are causing sciatica pain. That can include techniques to lengthen the spine and enhance the space between the vertebrae.
• Chiropractic exercises: Moving in particular ways can worsen sciatica pain. Nonetheless, depending on the root cause of the problem, a chiropractor will recommend exercises that not only avoid sciatic nerve aggravation but also help in releasing the pressure that comes from inflamed and tight muscles. Those exercises include stretching programs that you can do right at home. Yoga is also effective for relieving sciatica pain. For instance, the reclining pigeon pose can stretch the piriformis muscle, release pressure on the nerve, and ease irritations.
• Lifestyle changes: Chiropractors look at all aspects of your life. He or she might recommend a new way to stand, sit, sleep, and lift to protect the positioning of the sciatic nerve. This guidance can help you strengthen the back muscles to keep the disc in place. That is crucial because, the stronger the back is, the less likely discs will slip to put pressure on the sciatic nerve again. Therefore, chiropractors can help ease sciatica pain both in the short and long term.

BOTTOM LINE - Sciatica pain can be incapacitating and although it is common, it is no reason you should have to tolerate it. With a proper diagnosis, you can get relief by starting a treatment program. Your chiropractor at Vitality Health Center is well-trained and equipped to offer the relief you need from the pressure and sciatica pain you are feeling so that you can get back to enjoying life.

If you are dealing with sciatica or back pain and you are looking to find long-lasting relief, talk with, Dr. John T. Toth, our dedicated chiropractor at Vitality Health Center by calling 651-773-9414.

Vitality Health Center serves patients in White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Shoreview, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Arden Hills, North Oaks, Pine Springs, Grant and surrounding areas.