So You Have Been Diagnosed With Sciatica — Now What?
Well, firstly, what is sciatica? Sciatica refers to the pain, burning, and tingling you are most likely experiencing in one of your legs. It is caused by pressure or injury to the sciatic nerve, a nerve that branches from the spinal cord through the hips and down the back of each leg. This nerve controls many of the muscles in the legs and is responsible for feeling in the lower body, which is why you are experiencing so much discomfort.
Well, there is good news; Your discomfort can be treated. You can do what many people do and try pain relieving medications, physical therapy, or massage as treatment options. These options may be beneficial, depending on a variety of factors. However, there is one other option that may prove to be the most effective when treating sciatica — chiropractic treatment, like that of Dr. Mohr, a local Tampa chiropractor.
The reason for this distinction is, unlike the other treatment options, chiropractic treatment is designed to treat the causative effects of sciatica, rather than the sciatica itself. This is a very key distinction between the treatment options because sciatica is not a condition on its own; it is a symptom of another medical problem. Thus, the treatment needs to get at the root of what is causing the sciatica in order to fully treat it, which is why chiropractic treatment seems to be the most effective option.
What Will The Chiropractor Do To Help You?
The chiropractor will use a variety of methods to treat your sciatica. One method is ice/cold therapy, which will reduce inflammation and pain. A second treatment method performed by a chiropractor is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS. TENS is a muscle stimulating machine that uses electrical currents to relieve pain. Additionally, a chiropractor may use spinal adjustment. Spinal adjustments are the core of chiropractic care and form the basis for chiropractors’ principle guideline – restricted spinal movement can lead to pain and reduced function. Therefore, chiropractors will focus much of their treatment around the adjustment of the spinal cord and increasing mobility. These adjustments free restricted movement of the spine. Once the spine is aligned, nerve irritability responsible for causing inflammation, burning, tingling and pain related to sciatica can be reduced. Furthermore, spinal adjustment gets to the root of what is causing the sciatica and treats its underlining cause. Another common cause of sciatica pain is tight muscles, which can be caused from poor posture and over use. Dr. Mohr is highly skilled in this area and has various procedures that he will perform in order to find out if muscle spasms are to blame for your pain.
The Main Goal Of Chiropractic Treatment Is To Increase The Body’s Ability To Heal Itself
It is generally safe, painless, and proven to be effective. It can relieve the pain, burning, and tingling caused by sciatica, and it can also increase your movement and improve your functioning.
You may fear that your sciatica will chronically rob you of your comfort and mobility, but that is not always the case. Call our office to find out how chiropractic treatment can help. You may also request an appointment through our website here.