Sciatica


                        
    Common Questions:
    How do you get sciatica?

    It’s easy to trace some spinal problems to an
    event, such as a car accident. Yet, sciatica is
    often the result of cumulative damage. Years of
    bad posture, poor muscle tone, excess weight or
    countless other causes set the stage. Then,
    something simple like bending over to tie your
    shoes can trigger an episode.  This simple act
    can lead to a severe injury because there was
    spinal joint and muscle dysfunction that
    originated from nervous system dysfunction.

    Can anything else cause sciatica?

    Spinal decay can be another culprit. Instead of
    disc thinning that puts pressure on the sciatic
    nerve roots, arthritic bone spurs can intrude into
    the space normally reserved for the nerve.  

    Can chiropractic cure sciatica?

    Actually, chiropractic doesn’t cure anything!
    Only your body can do that. The chiropractic
    approach to sciatica (and other health problems)
    is to help restore the way your spine works,
    reducing nerve irritation and revitalizing your
    own healing ability.

    How long will I need chiropractic care?

    Most sciatica patients are delighted with the
    results they get after weeks or months of care.
    Naturally, this varies from patient to patient.
    Many discover that years of neglect have
    produced spinal instabilities that never fully heal.
    These patients elect to continue with periodic
    chiropractic checkups. It’s up to you.


                          Sciatica

    "Sciatica" that most doctors and the public speak of is a
    VERY general term that means lower back dysfunction that
    causes leg pain.  Some doctors and the general public use
    the term "sciatica" loosely, even if it is technically accurate.  
    When most people speak of sciatica, they do not mean it
    involves the sciatic nerve.

    Sciatica can have several causes:  Disc injury, Sacroiliac
    (SI) joint injury, and Piriformis compression of the sciatic
    nerve are the most common.  Sciatica often begins as an
    sharp pain in the lower back and begins to spread down
    the back of either leg. The pain often worsens during long
    periods of sitting or standing and most suffering sciatica
    patients are known to be in their 40s and 50s.

    Five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form
    the two sciatic nerves; you can visualize this like five small
    streams coming to together to form one large river.

    Some people may try to treat sciatica through bed rest,
    pain pills, or even muscle relaxers. They soon come to find
    that these methods of treatment often end with a worsened
    condition since they are unable to correct the nerve
    compression caused by a bulging disc. Sometimes physical
    therapy helps by exercising the unstable joints, but if the
    subluxation complex is the  root cause of the problem, it will
    not correct it.  Fortunately, sciatica often responds to safe,
    natural chiropractic care. Improving joint motion with a
    series of chiropractic adjustments has provided results for
    millions.

    Central Valley Chiropractic chiropractors are uniquely
    skilled in evaluating and reducing the most common cause
    of sciatica nerve pain. We believe in the natural approach
    to relief and better health.