Sciatica pain is very common; in fact, over three million cases are diagnosed every year. This is because the sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, running from the lower back down each leg. It only makes sense that this large nerve would be impacted by the amount of sitting, jostling and impact that comes down the lower back and into the legs each day.

Pain is typically caused when a herniated disk or bone spur in the spine presses on the sciatic nerve, resulting in inflammation, pain and sometimes numbness in the affected leg. The pain originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg, usually affecting only one side of the body at a time. The pain can be dull and aching or sharp and unrelenting.

What to Do About the Pain?

While most cases of sciatica pain resolve themselves within a month or so, sciatica pain can be debilitating and at the very least, distracting. You can speed recovery by doing the following:

1. Stretch.

Lift your left leg and place your right ankle on top of the left knee until you feel a deep stretch in your buttocks. Hold the position for 60-90 seconds at a time. This helps stretch the piriformis muscle, which sometimes will bring immediate relief. Repeat this stretch on both legs, even though only one side is bothering you.

2. Apply heat.

A heating pad, placed at the location of the pain for 15 minutes at a time, will stimulate blood flow and encourage healing.

3. Chill out.

Alternate heat with an ice pack, again for 15 minutes at a time, to reduce inflammation.

4. Exercise in the pool.

The cool water will reduce inflammation and the movement will increase blood flow.

5. Seek natural pain relief.

Instead of popping pain pills, check in for some acupuncture for pain relief (acupuncture, when performed in the right points, activates natural pain relievers created by your body, with no negative side effects) and engage in mindfulness meditation, which has been shown to reduce pain.

6. Get back in alignment.

Chiropractors treat a lot of sciatica patients because in many cases, vertebrae misalignment is the primary cause of the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Once the adjustments have been completed, pressure is off the nerve, inflammation goes down, and the pain goes away. In most cases, several adjustments must be made in order to prevent the body from slipping back into the old misalignment, recreating the initial problem.

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Looking for Sciatica Pain Treatment in Huntersville?

If you’re ready to effective acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments for sciatica pain, give us a call or stop in to meet with Dr. Doyle. We love drop in visits, and we encourage you to come as often as needed to get the relief you desire. You’ll be surprised at how quickly we see results when treating sciatica pain; this is one of our specialties.

Dr. Doyle takes insurance, including Medicare. Contact us today for immediate relief.