The sciatic nerve is extremely sensitive, and pain in the area is typically described as sharp, shooting, or sudden. The pain related to sciatica can be inhibiting, limiting the ability to complete day-to-day tasks.
Treating pain in the sciatic nerve can be a wild ride of trial and error if you isolate yourself through your treatment journey. Thankfully, there are local wellness specialists in Tucker who can offer resources that help you get back on your feet with minimized or reduced pain.
At Optimum Health Rehabilitation Center, we have Tucker sciatica pain specialists standing by to help you get started on your road to relief. Our licensed chiropractors, physical therapists, and pain treatment experts can introduce you to restorative treatments that tackle the root of your pain for long-term pain relief.
Take control of your health with the resources available from our local team of professionals. To speak with a trusted member of our team, contact us online or call (404) 793-1600.
Getting Sciatica Treatment
The sciatic nerve is technically an interconnection of multiple nerve endings that create a thick root at the base of the sciatic region, which extends down each leg. While lower back pain is extremely common, injuring the actual sciatic nerve is less likely, even though lower back pain is frequently attributed to sciatica.
This discomfort has a wide range of causes and is most common in adult males aged 30 to 50. Because pain in the sciatic region is considered deep-rooted nerve pain, finding a comprehensive treatment plan can take a more thorough approach.
While most pain relief journeys begin at home, topical and over-the-counter products may be less productive as the foundation of a sciatica pain-relief plan in the long run because of how little those products can do for the source of the pain.
Lidocaine patches, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, and topical creams are best at targeting muscle and joint-related pain but may not be the most proactive approach for nerve pain.
When seeking treatment for sciatica, you may undergo testing and be given recommendations for medications or surgeries, but there are non-invasive approaches that can be beneficial to try first. More-direct approaches like physical therapy and regenerative therapy have been proven to provide long-term results in many patient cases.
Physical Rehabilitation
Sciatica can be the result of many injuries and conditions but typically comes from the result of a compressed nerve. This inflames the area and pinches the nerve simultaneously, making for extremely painful stimulation at the base of the nerve.
Sciatica pain can travel from the lower back to the hips and legs, overwhelming the entire lower body.
Physical rehabilitation is one of the most productive ways to decompress the sciatic nerve and is typically done by a wellness specialist utilizing standard techniques like manual adjustments,, and stretching.
Hydrotherapy has also been a popular method of sciatica relief.
Rehabilitation at Optimum Health begins with diagnostic tests that help your wellness specialist assess the complexities of your pain in order to develop the most beneficial course of action which targets your sciatic pain using a combination of our facility’s services.
Regenerative Therapy
To complement physical therapy, regenerative therapy is another non-invasive pain-relieving treatment that promotes a boost in your body’s natural healing abilities.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections utilize plasma from your own blood and are injected into a targeted area, in this case, the sacroiliac ligament and lumbosacral joint, in an effort to manage inflammation and the accompanying pain.
Because PRP injections use your own blood and plasma, it prevents the risk of rejection and makes the process much easier on the body.
Risk Factors for Sciatica
Some people are more prone to developing sciatica than others. Pain in the lumbar region is usually the result of degeneration or injury, resulting in compressed nerves or herniated discs.
Lower back pain is often attributed to sciatica, even if the nerve is completely unaffected, but comparing one’s life to the following symptoms can help a person better understand if they are more likely to be dealing with sciatica or another type of lower back pain.
Even though some causes of sciatica can be genetic, there are other risk factors that may increase the likelihood of experiencing sciatic nerve damage, including but not limited to:
- Injury/previous injury: While any injury to the lower back or spine has the potential to result in sciatica, athletic and auto accident injuries are the most commonly treated injury-related sciatica. If you have experienced a previous injury in the lower back area, your developing pain could be due to compression or degeneration in the sciatic nerve.
- Living a sedentary lifestyle: Sitting, slouching, and lying down for long periods of time can put excessive pressure on the sciatic nerve. This can also cause a decrease in blood flow, affecting the body’s nutrient levels and furthering sciatica pain. Interestingly enough, physical activity like light stretching or walking can actually relieve the lower back of some pressure because you are stretching out from the compressed state the lower back grew familiar with.
- Obesity: Someone who is overweight consistently carries more weight around than their body is accustomed to handling. The extra weight will cause excessive pressure on joints, and even nerves, as a person participates in any activity, from sitting and standing to walking and exercising. Obesity can rapidly increase the rate of degeneration, making a person more likely to develop painful conditions such as osteoarthritis.
- Physically demanding career field: A labor-intensive job can increase a person’s chances of experiencing all types of chronic pain conditions, especially sciatica. Repetitive motions like bending, lifting, or transporting heavy objects from one point or another can all require more effort from the back than expected, causing a build-up of stiffness and compression at the moment as you try to relax at the end of the day.
- Diabetes: One major symptom of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy which will result in nerve damage throughout the body, typically most intense at the hands and feet. Diabetic neuropathy specifically attacks the nervous system, making people with this condition more likely to develop sciatica.
- Osteoarthritis: As we age, wear and tear to the joints is to be expected. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms and eventually lead to extreme pain. While osteoarthritis is known to mainly attack muscles and joints, the way this condition degenerates the cartilage and discs in the spinal column can result in the development of nerve pain like sciatica.
- Smoking: A study conducted to test the links between smoking and degenerative conditions, it was found that nicotine may be directly responsible for intervertebral disc degeneration by causing cell damage, which affects the resilience of the discs and how they function.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women face a unique risk for sciatica because it isn’t caused by a degenerative condition or an injury but instead is due to the hormones that are produced during pregnancy. These hormones can loosen ligaments, the essential mechanism that prevents misalignment, as ligaments secure the discs and vertebrae and keep the spine stable. Additionally, the position of the baby can also add excessive pressure causing even more discomfort and risk for an injury such as a slipped disc.
Can I Prevent Sciatica Pain?
Pain in the sciatic region typically develops around age 30 or older, but early-onset symptoms can be seen in young adults. Sciatica can affect everyone except young children, but preventive care is one of the most proactive ways to prevent degeneration or extreme pain from developing and getting out of hand.
Roughly 40% of adults will experience sciatica in their lives, but preventative care is a productive strategy to promote long-term wellness, and the following tips may do just that:
- Stop smoking: While stopping smoking can’t halt your risk for sciatica altogether, quitting smoking is linked to a decrease in the chances of conditions like sciatica.
- Practice good posture: Sitting up straight with your shoulders back and relaxed is the ideal posture to support all areas of your back. Unfortunately, no position is healthy to stay in for too long, so be sure to get up and move after sitting too long.
- Stretch: Stretching can be a natural way to alleviate compression and tension in the back, preventing stiffness and extreme pain from gradually developing over time.
- Keep track of your weight: Shedding extra pounds can reduce the pressure on your joints, ultimately reducing your risk of many degenerative conditions.
Meet With a Wellness Specialist From Optimum Health in Tucker to Find Comprehensive Sciatica Relief
Sciatica is a chronic pain condition that can make achieving small, daily goals feel like an uphill battle. Managing this kind of pain is exhausting and can make tasks that used to feel simple much harder.
Don’t conform to persistent pain. Optimum Health in Buford offers comprehensive sciatica pain treatment, including chiropractic care, regenerative medicine, physical rehabilitation, personal injury treatments, and more.
A licensed sciatica pain specialist can help you better understand the root of your pain and how to attack it effectively. Our staff is committed to providing aid to each patient that we see and is dedicated to their long-term wellness.
To get in touch with a trusted member of our team, contact us online or call (404)793-1600.