Have you ever felt severe, shooting pain traveling from the lower back down to one or both buttocks and legs? This is a common symptom of Sciatica. The underlying cause of this condition can be difficult to pinpoint. Pressure on a nerve root from a damaged or degenerated spinal disc or vertebra can lead to irritation of the sciatic nerve, resulting in pain spreading to the extremities. Tight muscles or inflammation around the sciatic nerve can also be contributing factors. These issues can disrupt the proper transmission of signals from the central nervous system to the leg tissues and cells.
How Do You Know If You Have Sciatica?
Sciatica symptoms include:
Pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling radiating from the low back or buttock into the leg and/or foot.
Bending over or lifting the leg may exacerbate the symptoms.
Coughing and sneezing can also bring on sudden pain.
Where Does Sciatica Come From?
Common instigating factors include:
A major accident or trauma like a sports injury or fall.
Poor lifestyle habits over time like eating inflammatory foods (sugar, refined oils, etc.)
Little to no core strength.
Being overweight or obese.
A sedentary lifestyle like sitting too many hours a day.
Repetitive movements in poor posture like bending, twisting, and lifting with poor form.
Office workers and those who work from home are prone to these injuries as they sit in poor posture for hours, doing the same small movements repetitively. Think about slumping over your laptop in the same position for an hour or more, and how the legs and low back do not get a chance to move and bring blood flow into the lower half of the body.
Pregnant women can also be susceptible to sciatica as the body goes through rapid hormonal and postural changes as pregnancy progresses. As a baby grows in size, this shifts internal organs, putting new pressure on the structures of the lower body.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help With Sciatica?
Chiropractic care addresses the root cause of symptoms and disease. When assessing a person, chiropractors look to the spine and nervous system to find areas of subluxation (a mechanical dysfunction of a vertebra, impacting the body’s ability to self-regulate, communicate, heal, and repair).
Rather than just trying to cover up symptoms, chiropractors find the underlying cause of the issue. If someone is suffering with a subluxation, chiropractors adjust that area of the spine to create better movement, reduce inflammation, break up scar tissue, and allow the body to heal itself.
As chiropractors, our holistic approach goes beyond symptom-focused care in order to heal and optimize your entire body. Using a synergistic combination of gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments, correction of poor lifestyle habits and a tailor-made exercise program, we create bespoke treatment plans for each client to effectively address the underlying issues behind sciatica. Rather than struggling through your sciatica pain, book an appointment with your local chiropractor and find out more about how they can help your body heal.
At Electra Chiropractic, our American-educated chiropractor provides care in English with an emphasis on sustainable health solutions. Dr. Ariel Thorpe, DC, is registered and licensed in Japan, Hong Kong, and the USA. Are you struggling with sciatica in Tokyo and not sure if chiropractic can help? Book a free 15-minute online consultation here.
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