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Sciatica Treatment with Chiropractic

Written By Marshall Family Chiropractic on April 15, 2019

If you are looking for sciatica treatment, chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and non-invasive way to reduce pain while avoiding reliance on medication.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a common cause of chronic pain in adults, and people who spend long work days sitting at desks are especially prone.

Sciatica is generally described as a pain that begins in the low back or near the tailbone. The pain tends to travel down the back or side of one leg, but it can also occur in both legs at the same time.

The pain from sciatica can be constant or intermittent, and the intensity can vary depending on the individual, time of day, and environment. (For example, driving a car for a long commute might exacerbate the pain.)

Nerve Compression

Some of the symptoms of sciatica can mimic neuropathy (nerve damage) because it can cause a feeling of tingling or prickling in the legs and feet. However, in sciatica, the nerve (called, not surprisingly, the sciatic nerve) is not permanently damaged but compressed.

This nerve compression is often caused by misaligned spinal vertebrae (bones) in the lower part of the spine (called the lumbar spine). Other conditions that can compress the sciatic nerve include pregnancy, tumors, bulging or herniated disks, and even constipation.

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome can also cause sciatica. The piriformis is a muscle that goes through the rear end and connects to the lower part of the spine and the thigh bone. This muscle can become tight and knotted from long periods of sitting. The sciatic nerve runs behind the piriformis muscle, which can become pinched if the piriformis becomes inflamed or cramped.

Falls, arthritis, and even legs of a different length can also aggravate the piriformis muscle.

One way to test to see if the piriformis muscle is tight is to take a tennis ball and place it underneath the middle of the buttocks while lying down with legs bent and feet on the floor. The piriformis muscle will be quite tender and painful, so be gentle, and do not try this exercise if you have an existing injury!

How Chiropractic Care Can Be Your Sciatica Treatment

Spinal manipulation and other chiropractic approaches help relieve pressure on herniated or bulging disks, remove spinal misalignments, and relax tight piriformis muscles. This frees up the sciatic nerve and stops the pain!

Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica in Saint Clair, Michigan

If you have sciatica in Saint Clair, Michigan, Chiropractor Dr. Eric Marshall and the team at Marshall Family Chiropractic can help. Call us at (810) 329-6100 for more information.


Posted In: Chiropractic Sciatica Treatment