Sciatica – What is it? Chiropractor Plymouth.

Sciatica – What is it?  Chiropractic Plymouth.

The meaning of sciatica is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a non-specific term referring to pain, numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in the buttock or leg. Sometimes there may be muscular weakness or difficulty in moving the leg. It is not a cause of low back pain, but is a set of symptoms from the sciatic nerve being irritated.  Thus, the treatment for sciatica or sciatica symptoms differs depending on what the source of the problem is.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body.  It exits the spine in the low back and runs through your hip area, buttocks, and down each leg. The sciatic nerve provides feeling to your thighs and legs and controls the muscles.

Sciatica is a sign that pressure is being put on the nerve.  It can be mechanically compressed or inflamed anywhere along its course from the low back to the legs. Sciatica is commonly caused by a disc problem (herniation, bulges, or protrusion) that compresses the nerve in the low back.

Sciatica like symptoms can also result from the nerve being compressed by the piriformis muscle which is located in the buttock area (termed Piriformis Syndrome) or damage to the facet joints in the lower back (termed Facet Syndrome).

Most cases of sciatica often resolve with non-surgical treatments such as chiropractic adjustments, disc decompression treatments, and physiotherapy modalities. In severe cases, needle injections of medication or surgery may be needed.

Finding out the underlying cause is the first step in addressing sciatica.  See your Plymouth Chiropractor to evaluate where your pain is coming from so you can get back to enjoying your life.  Contact Plymouth Spine & Health Center at 763.432.2736 for a free consultation and see how we can help!

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