Sciatica is a painful, sometimes debilitating condition that causes pain in the lower back, buttocks, and sometimes down into the legs. For some people, it's just a nagging pain that might make their day just a little miserable, while for other people it may prevent them from working, getting around, or doing the things they love to do.
When sciatic nerve pain keeps coming back, it could be a sign that the problem is not below the waist where you feel it the worst—the root of the problem could be in your neck.
Signs and Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatic nerve pain is generally localized to the buttock area. There may be a burning or aching deep inside, and it may interfere with your mobility. Sciatic pain can radiate upwards into the lower back, or downward into the legs. In the worst cases, the pain may go all the way down to the toes.
Most people may feel sciatica only on one side, but others may have pain to some degree on both sides. The pain may be aggravated by walking, bending, lifting or carrying heavy objects, doing certain exercises, or sitting or lying down for too long.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatic pain is caused by the compression or damage of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the human body. It runs from the lower back down through the buttocks and legs. The nerve compression or damage may be due to a bulging disc, an overly-tightened muscle, or bone spurs on the spine.
Often, the source of problems with the sciatic nerve originates much higher. Often, it is a misalignment of the upper cervical spine that causes a domino effect down the rest of the back.
The upper cervical spine is the top part of the spine that runs through the neck and is prone to injury. Once there is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine, it throws the entire musculoskeletal system off-kilter. Until the upper cervical spine is realigned, problems will continue to reappear.
How We Treat Sciatica
Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas offers patients a natural, drug-free, non-invasive treatment that helps reduce or eliminate sciatic pain. Dr. Elder uses advanced diagnostic tools and modern, specialized methods to restore the upper cervical spine's proper alignment. Once this is done, many other necks, shoulder, and back problems fade as the strain on them is removed.
Dr. Elder is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique. Blair practitioners use state-of-the-art 3D diagnostic imaging technology to perform superior assessments. Once they understand your unique anatomy, the next step is to facilitate healing through precise adjustments using gentle pressure.
After the patient begins treatments and the spine is realigned, the body's natural healing mechanisms kick into gear to help restore health and repair damage. Beyond that, Dr. Elder recommends regular check-ups to ensure the alignment is holding.
If your sciatic nerve pain is getting you down, contact Dr. Elder to hear how he can help you. Our areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.