Have you ever felt a debilitating pain shoot down your leg? Even if only happened once, you’d remember. Chances are that even if it only happened once, you’re susceptible to sciatica pain. I can tell you from personal experience, it is not something you want to become chronic.

Regular chiropractic care can prevent sciatica from becoming a constant pain in your … um, dupa (now you know a Polish word! Aren’t you happy?) Not sure what sciatica is (aside from terrible, of course)? According to Medical News Today, “Sciatica is the name given to pain caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. Anything that irritates this nerve can cause pain, ranging from mild to severe. Sciatica is usually caused by a compressed nerve in the lower spine. [1]

Often, the term ‘sciatica’ is confused with general back pain. However, sciatica is not just limited to the back. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the human body. It runs from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the legs, ending just below the knee.

This nerve controls several muscles in the lower legs and supplies sensation to the skin of the foot and the majority of the lower leg. Sciatica is not a condition, but rather a symptom of another problem involving the sciatic nerve. Some experts estimate that up to 40 percent of people will experience sciatica at least once in their life.

Fast facts on sciatica:

 The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. The most common cause of sciatica is a slipped (herniated) disk. Sciatica is not a condition; it is a symptom. 

Symptoms of sciatica

Sciatica can cause pain in the back and legs.

The main symptom is a shooting pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve; from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of either leg.

Other common symptoms of sciatica include:

• numbness in the leg along the nerve
• tingling sensation (pins and needles) in the feet and toes

This pain can range in severity and may be aggravated by sitting for long periods.”

Sounds awful, right? Trust me, it is. Dr. Roger can help! Did you notice that the sciatic nerve runs from the lower back to the leg? Right – what’s in your lower back? Vertebrae! Guess why your sciatic nerve is hurting … if you said because you have a subluxation (or misalignment, if you prefer), you’re right. The sciatic nerve can be “pinched” if your vertebrae are out of alignment. Chiropractic is the practiced act of realigning the vertebrae (and should only be attempted by a person who has studied the medical methodology and practice of Chiropractic).  Call Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center to have Dr. Roger realign your spine and correct that sciatic pain before it becomes chronic!

484-751-5037

Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center • 600 West Dekalb Pike • Suite 201 • King of Prussia, PA 19406

[1] “Sciatica: What You Need to Know” Medically reviewed by Justin Choi, M.D. — Written by Caroline Gillott on December 15, 2017