How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Treatment for Sciatica
The traditional medical approach to managing sciatica is to treat the symptoms. This may include using painkillers, muslce relaxants, or anti-inflammatory medications. Injections directly into the nerve roots may also be used. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended.
The chiropractic approach to treating sciatica is to find the source of the nerve irritation and relieve the pressure that is causing the pain. By correcting the source of the problem, the body can heal naturally. Sciatica, like other health conditions that can be traced to the spine, often responds dramatically to the restoration of normal spinal function through chiropractic care.
Chiropractic methods vary according to the specific source of sciatica. First your chiropractor takes a complete history to determine when the problem first appeared and possible sources. Next x-rays are taken and a complete physical and chiropractic exam is performed. These tests are reviewed and discussed with you along with recommendations for treatment.
Treatment varies according to the severity of the condition. With most patients, a series of adjustments to move the related vetebra back to a more normal position is helpful to reduce the pressure on the nerve. In some cases, the use of ultrasound and ice is needed. Massage Therapy to reduce the pain related to muscle spasms is frequently helpful. Combining adjustments with physiotherapy has proven very successful in treating most sciatica.