Sciatica pain can happen to anyone and for many reasons. One thing is certain: sciatica is painful and significantly reduces one’s ability to do basic functions, like exercise, walking, and even standing up.
Living with sciatic nerve pain should not be definite. In fact, Optimum Health Rehab Suwannee has a team dedicated to providing pain management to their patients through an array of different techniques that have proven time and time again to be effective in reducing or eliminating sciatica pain altogether.
Don’t immediately opt for surgery. Our technique in approaching pain is to find and address the root problem with chiropractic and therapy strategies.
Call us at (678) 546-0550 to schedule your appointment, or complete our online form today.
How Optimum Health Rehab Suwannee Provides Relief Through Sciatica Treatment
Finding relief for sciatica can be exhausting, and most patients are willing to go through different treatment methods if that means avoiding more complicated medical procedures like surgery and injections.
At Optimum Health Rehab Suwanee, patients can find that alternative through chiropractic and physical therapy treatment programs.
Each patient will start with a complete diagnosis that includes a health assessment, answering questions about your lifestyle, and depending on the level of Pain and type, different kinds of imaging.
Our goal is to have a complete understanding of where you feel pain and find the cause of the Pain.
As a client, your physical exam may include:
- Checking for difficulties in bending forward, backward, or bending your feet in and out.
- Checking for difficulty walking on your toes.
- Checking for numbness, especially in the buttock or legs.
- Checking for pain when lifting legs or weakness when being your knees.
We take pride in our positive reputation for our ability to treat and care for our client’s pain by providing treatment plans that treat more than just the symptoms of the pain. Clients can expect a full and honest assessment and options for a path leading to sciatica relief.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a medical term used to describe pain caused by the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve begins in the back and runs through the hips and buttocks into one or both legs.
What makes this kind of pain unique is that it is felt by people at any given point in their lifetime no matter their age, level of activity, or lifestyles..
Patients report feeling numbness or tingling before even knowing that they are dealing with pain coming from their sciatic nerve. Sciatica can become so chronic that some patients report weakness in their lower extremities and even loss of difficulty maintaining bowel and bladder control.
Sciatica is also a condition where the pain starts dull and gets worse as it progresses.
Sciatica can be caused by different root causes. It can be a result of a slipped or herniated disc, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome ( a pain disorder), pelvic injuries or fractures, underlying tumors, and Spondylolisthesis (slip of the vertebrae in the spine).
Dealing with sciatica has serious implications for one’s ability to function while completing their daily routines and even their hobbies. Fortunately, there are treatments readily available to provide relief.
More Serious Complications of Sciatica
Sciatica should not come with additional medical issues. Clients are encouraged to call their doctors if they experience sciatica the following symptoms:
- Redness or swelling on your back or spine.
- Unexplained fever alongside sciatica.
- Pain traveling below the knee.
- Burning while urinating or blood in the urine.
- Pain increases when one lies down or keeps them up at night.
- Sciatica lasts longer than four weeks.
These additional symptoms can lead to a more serious condition that a doctor should evaluate and treat immediately.
What Are the Traditional Treatment Options for Sciatica?
Sciatica can be caused in many different ways, but most commonly, it is due to a pinched nerve in the lower back or gluteal areas. When the nerve becomes compressed, it causes a sharp pain that travels down one or both legs, buttocks, and hips and can cause numbness, tingling, or even a burning sensation.
Treating sciatica is different for each client since what is causing the pain can stem from different issues. Some patients suffer from a herniated disc, which in turn has impacted the surrounding nerves.
Others find bony overgrowths that stem from their spine and come into contact with the sciatic nerve. Other factors, like age, injury, or medical conditions, can cause sciatica and requires a different approach to treating the pain.
Anti-Inflammatory Medication
Patients taking anti-inflammatory medication, like Advil or Aleve, can find temporary relief from their pain. These medications are over the counter and are only prescribed by a doctor when a higher dose is needed.
This approach to treating sciatica does not eliminate the pain but instead provides temporary relief. Patients are advised that these medications do carry side effects, including increased bleeding and digestive issues.
Corticosteroids
These powerful anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed by a doctor and are administered either orally or through an injection. Patients report that they feel relief rather quickly when taking this kind of medication.
However, the side effects of corticosteroids might be too high for some. Side effects include bone thinning, the likelihood of infections, damage to existing cartilage, and nerve damage.
Additionally, patients who suffer from diabetes run the risk of a spike in their blood sugar for a long period of time, exposing them to more medical complications. In some cases, patients will require higher doses of insulin (if Type 1 ) or higher dosages of medication (if type 2 diabetic).
Other options often seen are injections and surgery to treat sciatica. While the results can be great, to many patients, the risks can outweigh the reward. Seeking alternative solutions to treat sciatica is usually a path visited by most patients.
Effective Alternative Options for Sciatica Pain Treatment
Sciatica can happen to anyone at any age, with root causes stemming from injury to age. Clients who experience sciatica and seek alternative treatments can find a combination of different techniques that are aimed at bringing relief.
Optimum Health Rehab Suwannee is dedicated to providing our clients the best alternative treatment options.
Rehabilitative exercises are found to be an effective method to treat sciatica. From chiropractic adjustments to physical therapy, patients find that they experience fewer episodes or have completely recovered from their pain.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments allow for a passive manual adjustment to the body, where it is reset to its natural alignment. Especially when treating the lower back and hips, patients find restored mobility, increased movements, and reduced pain in the areas affected most by the pain.
Physical Rehabilitative Therapy
Physical Rehabilitative therapy techniques can increase blood flow to the affected areas. Plus, it has been proven to increase mobility and strength in weakened areas and release compression of the sciatic nerve.
Additionally, all clients will be taught exercises and stretches that are designed to increase the strength of their back and core muscles. This will help develop an increase in mobility and strength of the spine and other problem areas.
Sciatica cases are those where bed rest is not recommended, and in its place, increased activity with careful movements improves sciatica conditions.
Neurological Therapy
Best knowing neurological testing and treatment, this technique can pinpoint the areas that are affected the most. This process is a great way to determine how the nerve pathway has improved since beginning treatment.
Diet and Nutritional Therapy
Meeting with a nutritional expert can help identify what foods contribute to inflammation and further compressing the sciatic nerve. Overweight and diabetic clients may find that they particularly benefit from improvements to their diet.
Prevention of Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition that usually will go away after a few days but can also return. Clients who have recovered from sciatica pain can incorporate these techniques into their daily routines to help prevent sciatica from returning:
Increased Exercise and Mobility
With many desk jobs, it is not uncommon to find oneself sitting for most of the day. Plus, many sit while commuting to and from work, when they get home, and eat dinner or watch TV.
Increasing activity is one of the best treatments for preventing the return of sciatica. It is recommended that clients seek flexibility training, strength training, and aerobic exercises.
Practice Good Posture
Clients should be aware of their posture. If you sense or catch yourself slouching, take a second to correct yourself.
Good posture does not come naturally to everyone, but it can be accomplished more often with practice. Patients should pretend that their shoulder blades are touching, whether standing up or sitting in front of a computer.
Manage a Healthy Weight
Obesity can lead to many medical complications, like heart disease, diabetes, and sciatica issues. Maintaining a good diet and preventing processed foods is a good practice for preventing sciatica from happening (or returning) as it prevents inflammation and keeps your body weight at a level that does not add additional stress to your joints and spine.
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Optimum Health Rehab Suwannee Is Ready to Help You
Dealing with sciatica can be completely debilitating when completing normal tasks and functions. Do not let sciatica take over your life, and call us today to see what your options are.
Our team at Optimum Health Rehab Suwannee is ready to help you. Call us at (678) 546-0550 to schedule your appointment, or complete our online form today.