Sciatica

If you have sciatica, you know how painful it can be. It’s a health condition that can cause a great deal of discomfort in the lower back and legs. The condition can be helped by treatments from a chiropractor. There are chiropractic treatments such as manual adjustment of the spine that can help, but there are other treatments as well. If you may have this condition, call us at our Durham, NC, office to see our chiropractor about your back pain. We at South Square Chiropractic are here to help.

The Sciatic Nerve

When you have sciatica, your sciatic nerve has been affected and is causing your pain. The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body, and it can be affected by a number of things. When you experience sciatica, you may have pain somewhere along this nerve. It can cause lower back pain, but it can cause pain anywhere along the nerve. This includes everywhere from the lower back down into the legs. Generally, sciatic nerve pain is only on one side of the body. It can cause pain in the hips, in the buttocks, and it can extend into one of your legs. As pain radiates along this nerve, the pain can be bad enough that it adversely affects your life. 

Sciatica Causes

The nerve being affected is the cause of sciatica, but there are many ways that this can occur. You may have a bone spur located on your spine, or your spine may have a herniated disk. You could also have spinal stenosis, a condition in which the spine gets narrower and puts pressure on the nerve. When the nerve gets compressed, it can result in various levels of pain as well as numbness anywhere from the lower back to the calf. The condition often feels like there are electric shocks running through this nerve, but it can also give you a dull or sharp pain in the nerve or a burning feeling. It can also cause muscle weakness. 

Risk Factors for Sciatica

If you are obese or have diabetes, these are both risk factors for sciatica. Getting older is another big factor. When people get older, they are more likely to develop problems like herniated disks and spinal bone spurs. If you spend most of your time sitting, this can be another risk factor. If you have a job that entails carrying heavy items or twisting your back a lot, this ups your risk. 

Seek Treatment from Our Chiropractor

If you have pain that could be sciatica, see our chiropractor. Get chiropractic treatment in Durham, NC, to feel better. Call us at (919) 490-5400 for South Square Chiropractic.