Are you dealing with pain from the hip and radiating down to the lower back and leg? You might have sciatica, caused by swollen or inflamed muscles around the sciatic nerve. Sciatica mostly impacts one side, hence the pain radiating down one leg. The intensity can range from mere irritation to intolerable pain. The condition is caused by various concerns, from spinal dysfunction, herniated disc, pregnancy, and poor posture, to name a few. Sciatica can resolve on its own and, if not, tends to worsen during certain windows. While a common problem, with the right strategies, Spring Valley sciatica is treatable.
Chiropractic care is among the treatment strategies that can help relieve sciatica symptoms and improve the quality of your life. Chiropractic adjustments are a go-to for many people struggling with back pain, but with the many techniques available, you can address more than the spine needs. Among the strategies a chiropractor can employ to manage sciatica include:
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy leverages water resistance to help you tone the muscles. Chiropractors can use a hydrotherapy table to help you manage the pain by building and toning the muscles around the nerves. They can also guide you through water aerobics like swimming, helping you exercise the muscles, relieve pain, and naturally manage sciatica.
Use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device
TENS uses electricity. The electric unit used is small, which can’t shock you, but enough to relax muscle spasms. The stimulation also facilitates endorphins release, a chemical/hormone that helps relieve pain and stress and promotes a sense of well-being.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound therapy’s popularity continues to skyrocket, a strategy a chiropractor can employ in managing sciatica. The therapy uses sound waves/ultrasound rays to generate heat. This increases your blood flow and helps relax muscles and connective tissues. It results in muscle spasms and pain reduction, helping lower and treat sciatica symptoms.
Cold laser therapy
Laser use in the medical field continues to hit new highs as tech advancements revolutionize the industry. Lasers are precise, making it easier to deliver targeted treatments. Chiropractors use cold laser therapy to target a part and reduce swelling and inflammation, helping free the nerve from the excessive pressure causing sciatica.
Ergonomics
Your sitting, standing, walking, and workout techniques, just to name a few aspects, could be the reason behind worsening sciatica. Chiropractors can help adjust your posture, facilitating alignment that does not put pressure on the discs and nerves. They can help you adjust and adapt ergonomic movements as you manage your routine, protecting the spine and making it easier to avoid recurrent sciatica pain.
Sciatica can significantly impact your life. Chiropractic care wins on many fronts as you consider the best strategy to manage the symptoms and treat the condition. Among the top reason to see a chiropractor for sciatica is that it is a holistic approach. You will not rely on drugs, and since the strategies are personalized to address the cause of the pain, you won’t be masking the symptoms. Chiropractic care helps you deal with immediate sciatica concerns and adopt a regimen to protect the spine and keep the problem at bay. Visit Greenlight Chiropractic & Wellness Lab today for more on sciatica treatments.