Debunking Common Sciatica Myths and Chiropractic Treatment
Sciatica is a common spinal complaint, with the condition afflicting about 40% of the US population at some point in their lifetime.
Along with comorbidities such as lumbago, lower back pain, and headaches, sciatica affects numerous daily activities, including sitting down in a chair, standing up from a sitting position, or walking. Chiropractors treat sciatica according to its symptoms and underlying cause.
At Wellness for Life Chiropractic, we treat every patient with an individualized treatment program based on their unique needs.
- We diagnose the condition
- Discover the underlying cause
- Then administer super chiropractic practice
Schedule an appointment with our chiropractor today and dispose of the sciatica myths.
Understanding Sciatica Myths
Sciatica is a pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers that runs from the lower back down to the leg. The pain can be caused by an injury or irritation of the spine. However, the most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc, which occurs when part of a vertebrae pushes out through one or more levels of the spinal canal.
Sciatica can also be caused by the compression of other nerves in the area, such as those that control movement in your hips and legs.
In some cases, sciatica can occur due to degenerative disc disease (also known as osteoarthritis), which occurs with age and typically affects older adults. In rarer cases, it can result from other conditions such as infections or tumors.
Sciatica can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the legs and feet. It can also lead to a loss of bladder control, bowel control, and other symptoms such as back pain.
Common Sciatica Myths
You may have heard some of these common myths about sciatica. Here we debunk them consequently.
Sciatica is only caused by severe fibromyalgia
Fact: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) does not cause sciatica or other symptoms. The symptoms of FMS are mainly related to pain and fatigue; however, they can also happen as part of another condition that causes sciatica, such as a herniated disc or bulging/ruptured disc.
Sciatica only affects people over 60 years old
While having a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing sciatica, there is no age limit on when it may affect you. In fact, the condition can develop at any age, with about half of all cases occurring before age 50 and a half after age 50.
Sciatica will just “go away” with some rest
Sciatica is not a condition you can “get over” or “manage.” It’s a chronic disease that will continue to affect your life until you find a way to deal with it. You can’t “take care of it” by resting and taking pain medications.
Only a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can help you manage your sciatica symptoms.
Sciatica requires surgery
Fact: There is no medical consensus on whether surgery is necessary for all patients with sciatica. Some experts say that surgery may be helpful for some patients, but not all. In fact, a range of non-surgical treatments is available for most cases of sciatica.
Chiropractic Treatment of Sciatica
While sciatica myths may not seem like much of a problem, they can cause significant pain and discomfort if left untreated.
Chiropractic treatment can help relieve sciatic symptoms by reducing pressure on the nerve roots and relieving any inflammation in the area of injury. Chiropractors perform this treatment by adjusting the spinal vertebrae, which changes how your spine functions. Adjustments on one side of the spine will affect how you feel on both sides of your body.
Chiropractic treatment of sciatica myths is designed to reduce pain and inflammation in the affected areas. This can be achieved through spinal adjustments and other manual therapies that help relieve pressure on nerves.
Let Us Help You Alleviate Your Sciatica Myth Chronic Condition
If you are experiencing chronic, lingering sciatica symptoms, make an appointment with Wellness for Life Chiropractic. We can get to the bottom of your painful condition and begin to treat it effectively. Schedule today to get rid of sciatica myths and pain.
References
https://chirophysic.co.ke/2022/08/12/sciatica-myths-you-need-to-know/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/symptoms-causes/syc-20377435
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12792-sciatica