Sciatica is a painful condition that is common in the United States. About three million cases of sciatica are reported each year. If you think you have sciatica, contact Universal Treatment and Recovery Center in Elyria, OH, for an evaluation from our chiropractor. Sciatic nerve pain can be difficult to live with, but some treatments can help with this condition.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down through the buttocks and hips and branches go down into each leg. When pain is radiating down this nerve, it is referred to as sciatica. It generally strikes the body on only one side.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatic nerve pain can be caused by a spinal bone spur, a herniated disc or the spine becoming more narrow. Any of these conditions will compress the sciatic nerve. This compression causes leg pain, lower back pain, and/or pain elsewhere along the sciatic nerve. The compression of this nerve causes pain and inflammation and may cause the affected leg to become numb.
What Are The Symptoms of Sciatica?
The main symptom of sciatica is the pain that runs from the lower back down through the buttocks and into the backside of one leg from the thigh down through the calf. There can be several different types of pain that happen along this nerve. It may be a sharp pain, more of a dull ache, tingling or it may even feel like the area is burning. The pain can present as the feeling of an electric shock or as muscle weakness. The pain or other sensations can be made worse when you sit for long periods, sneeze, or cough.
Who Gets Sciatica?
Several risk factors can make it more likely to develop this condition. One main cause is getting older. As we age, we are more likely to get bone spurs and herniated discs, and these can both put pressure on the nerve. Being obese can do the same thing. If you have to sit for long periods or simply don't get much exercise, you have a higher risk of developing sciatica.
If your job requires you to carry heavy objects, twist your back often, or to drive for long hours, you may be at a higher risk. In some people, it is diabetes that causes the problem. For diabetics, you are at a higher risk of nerve damage, and this includes the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica Treatment in Elyria, OH
If you have lower back pain, leg pain, or another pain that is associated with sciatica, it may be time to see our chiropractor. Call Universal Treatment and Recovery Center today at (440) 324-4488 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jason for sciatica relief.