Have you ever experienced pain in your lower back? Probably…most of us have, unfortunately. How about lower back pain that shoots down the back of your legs, and if it’s bad enough, down to your feet? If so, you’re most likely experiencing sciatica. The bad news? It’s painful. The good news? It’s not as serious as the name sounds. Even better news? When you come to The Spine Clinic in Lake Worth, we can help.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition that occurs when your sciatic nerve is being compressed. So, what is a sciatic nerve? The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs from the lower back and down the back of each leg. If you’ve injured the sciatic nerve or there is something putting pressure on the nerve, the result is pain in the lower back that radiates to the buttocks, hip, and legs.
The pain can worsen with movement, but it can also be quite painful after sitting for an extended period of time, or even when coughing or sneezing. While a physical injury causes most lower back pain, sciatica is identifiable by pain, tingling, and even numbness into the legs and feet.
Who Can Get Sciatica?
Anyone, really. People within the 30 to 50 age range are most susceptible, but it’s certainly possible for those younger or older to suffer from sciatica. Pregnant women often experience sciatica as the developing uterus can apply pressure on the sciatic nerve as the pregnancy continues.
Causes of Sciatica
Herniated discs are a common cause of sciatica. This occurs when the gel-like center of a disc that separates each vertebrae pushes through its lining (the disc herniation) and presses on the sciatic nerve. Spinal stenosis, or the narrowing of the spinal cord, is another cause of sciatica as it applies pressure to the roots of the sciatic nerve. This generally occurs in people over 60. Sciatica can develop in other ways, but disc herniation and spinal stenosis are two of the more common conditions that can lead to sciatica.
Treatment Options for Sciatica
We’ve seen our share of sciatica cases here at The Spine Clinic in Lake Worth, and they’re very treatable. They’re generally identifiable through a physical exam, but there are times when imaging such as an MRI or CT scan might be necessary to diagnose the problem correctly. Once sciatica has been diagnosed, there are a few treatment options that we can customize to your specific needs.
Less severe cases can be comforted by heat and ice treatment and over-the-counter pain medication, and there are other treatment options we can explore if those solutions aren’t effective.
More painful cases can benefit from physical therapy, where certain stretches or routines can help reduce inflammation while strengthening your core. There may be other therapies, such as chiropractic, electric stimulation, and massage, that also help the pain.
Do You Need Sciatica Treatment in Lake Worth?
If you’ve been diagnosed with or think you might have sciatica, come see us at The Spine Clinic in Lake Worth. During your initial visit, we’ll have you fill out some paperwork, and then you’ll have a detailed discussion with the chiropractor about your health and history. From there, the chiropractor will conduct a structural analysis and may perform specific tests based on the analysis.
In most cases, you’ll receive treatment for your sciatica during your first visit as well. At The Spine Clinic, we have a licensed massage therapist on staff, ultrasound therapy, physical therapy, and electric muscle stimulation therapy, as well as chiropractic care and rehabilitation equipment–everything you need to start feeling better from your first appointment!
Call The Spine Clinic in Lake Worth at (561) 963-6227 today to get started.
