Are you in pain? We can help!
We have had great success putting our patients through a VAX-D protocol to heal sciatica completely and faster.
Sciatica is when pain travels down the leg from the lower back, usually caused by a herniated disc. Sciatica can also be due to other conditions such as a pinched nerve or spinal stenosis. Symptoms include shooting pain in one leg and numbness, tingling and weakness in both legs, as well as difficulty bending or moving your hips and legs.
Sciatica is usually treated with chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, injections into the spine called epidural steroid injections that help relieve inflammation around nerves — but surgery may be needed if you continue having severe symptoms that don’t respond to treatment.
Sciatica is caused by a pinched nerve in your lower back. Most often, this pinched nerve occurs when a herniated disc (slipped or ruptured disc) puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Other causes include spinal stenosis and arthritis.
If you’re pregnant or have recently given birth, you may experience sciatica due to lumbar lordosis (swayback). This condition occurs when there’s an increase of pressure on the vertebrae and associated discs in your lower back as they support an expanding abdomen. Sciatica may also result from injury to the sacroiliac joint or piriformis muscle during labor and delivery.
Dr Chris will ask you about your symptoms, and perform a physical examination.
During the physical examination, Dr. Chris will:
Inspect your lower back and legs. He may also check the skin near the area of pain for signs of infection.
Feel for tenderness in certain areas at the base of your spine (lumbar region).
In some cases, Dr. Chris may recommend imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans to rule out more serious problems like fractures.
There are several reasons why you should seek medical attention for sciatica:
If the pain is severe, or if it does not improve within a few days.
If your symptoms worsen during this time.
If you experience numbness, tingling or weakness in the leg.
If you have other symptoms such as fever, chills and nausea/vomiting.
The treatments for sciatica vary depending on the underlying cause of your pain. If you have a herniated disc, surgery might be an option to relieve pressure from the nerves in your spinal canal and allow them to heal. Medications that reduce inflammation or relax muscles can also help ease symptoms and should not be used without first consulting a doctor. Physical therapy is another common treatment that may include exercises to strengthen muscles in the lower body or stretching moves to promote flexibility in the back and legs. We have had success with using VAX-D treatment for patients with sciatica.
A combination of therapies may be necessary before you experience relief from sciatica pain, but don’t try any new treatments without getting approval from your doctor first!
You might be able to treat the pain at home. For example:
Take over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Don’t take aspirin if you’re older than 70 because it may increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach.
Ice packs can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation by cooling the area down. Apply an ice pack for 15 minutes several times a day for three days straight; don’t use ice on areas with poor circulation (like fingers or toes). Don’t put ice directly on your skin—use a cloth between your skin and the ice pack so that you don’t get frostbite.
Most people with sciatica get better without any treatment. But if you have persistent pain in your back, buttock or leg that is not getting better after about two months, come see Dr. Chris for an evaluation and possible treatment options.
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