Sciatica is more than just a bit of back pain. It’s a sharp, shooting pain that can travel from your lower back, through your buttocks, and down your leg.
Sometimes it’s a dull ache; other times, it’s a burning or tingling sensation. Whatever it feels like for you, one thing is for sure: it can make everyday life very difficult.
At Copa Chiropractic, we see many people who are struggling with sciatica, and we understand how frustrating it can be. The good news is that you do not have to just put up with it.
Chiropractic care offers a gentle and effective way to manage sciatica by getting to the root of the problem.
Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in your body, gets irritated or compressed. Think of it like a hosepipe with a kink in it; the water cannot flow freely.
When your sciatic nerve is compressed, it can cause pain and other symptoms anywhere along its path. A chiropractor’s job is to find out where and why the nerve is being irritated.
Common causes include a slipped disc, where one of the soft discs between your vertebrae bulges out and presses on the nerve. Spinal misalignments are another cause; if the bones in your lower back are not moving correctly, they can put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
A tight muscle in your buttocks, called the piriformis muscle, can also sometimes squeeze the sciatic nerve.
During your first visit, we will sit down with you and have a proper chat about your health history and what you have been experiencing. We will then do a thorough examination to figure out exactly what is going on.
Once we have identified the cause of your sciatica, we can start to address it with gentle, specific adjustments. A chiropractic adjustment is a skilled, precise movement applied to a joint in your spine.
The aim is to restore proper movement, take the pressure off the sciatic nerve, and allow your body to start healing itself. Many of our patients are surprised by how gentle the process is.
We use a variety of techniques and will always tailor our approach to your individual needs and comfort level. The goal is to help you feel better, not to cause more pain.
While chiropractic adjustments are at the heart of what we do, we also believe in looking at the bigger picture. To help you get the best possible results, we will also give you advice on stretches and exercises to help release tight muscles and strengthen your back.
We will also advise on posture, as simple changes to how you sit, stand, and sleep can make a huge difference. We can chat about things like ergonomics at work and how to lift things safely to avoid future problems.
We want to empower you to take an active role in your recovery and give you the tools you need to stay pain-free in the long run.
Living with sciatica can be tough, but it is important to remember that there is hope. Chiropractic care offers a safe, natural, and drug-free approach to managing sciatica by addressing the underlying cause of the problem.
If you are tired of living with the pain and want to find out if chiropractic care could help you, we are here to listen. We are passionate about helping the people of Newport get back to doing the things they love, and we would be honoured to be a part of your health journey.
