Annually, millions of people are affected by an incredibly painful and sometimes debilitating set of neurological symptoms known as sciatica. Considered lower-back-pain’s ugly step-sister, sciatica typically appears after damage, injury, or trauma to the lower spine. It results in radiating pain, numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness through the buttocks and hip and into either leg. This leads to difficulty walking, standing, sitting and even coughing or sneezing. What are the causes of sciatica, and which sciatic nerve pain treatments will help you find the most relief?

The Root Of the Problem

Sciatica symptoms can range from being a mild nuisance to being completely debilitating. But every instance starts with compression of the sciatic nerve, the largest and longest in the body, which originates as the nerve roots leaving the lumbar spine and runs down either leg into the feet. The type and severity of symptoms depends on the location of the “pinch” happening on the nerve. It can have several different causes, including:

• A bulging or herniated disc, which puts pressure on the nerve
• Lumbar stenosis, or the narrowing of the nerve’s pathway among the bones in the spine and pelvis
• Spondylolisthesis, or a “slipped” vertebra that pushes on adjacent nerves
• Trauma from an accident, a fall, or other instance of direct nerve compression caused by external forces to the lumbar or sacral spine
• Piriformis Syndrome, when a muscle in the buttocks spasms around the nerve and causes compression and irritation

The Best Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatments for Relief

While some very mild cases of sciatica are resolved with time, more severe or recurring sciatic pain is your indication that it’s best to seek medical assistance sooner rather than later. The most important step in finding sciatic pain relief is to repair the actual injury by starting with an accurate diagnosis. Many symptoms can be effectively managed with the following sciatic nerve pain treatments:

• Injections – Targeted injections for pain relief assists in reducing the inflammation that can persist long after the onset of injury
• Chiropractic Care – A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that 60% of patients with sciatica that failed to find relief from other medical modalities saw as much benefit from spinal manipulation as if they underwent microdiskectomy surgery. “Spinal manipulation may create a response in the nervous system that relieves pain and restores normal mobility to the injured area,” says researcher Gordon McMorland, DC, of National Spine Care in Calgary, Alberta.
• Spinal Decompression Therapy – Non-surgical spinal decompression creates a negative pressure inside the disc. It draws in any bulging or herniated disc material, like suction. Spinal traction not only creates negative damaged areas in the spine.
• Physical therapy – Targeted exercises and stretches can improve muscle balance and insufficiencies. It provides sciatica pain relief by repairing and preventing mechanical issues in the spine and pelvis.

Seeking to Stop Sciatica Symptoms?

At Atlanta Medical, we pride ourselves on establishing a plan of care based on accurate diagnoses of our patients’ conditions. Using a multi-disciplinary approach and the latest pain management techniques, we help our patients come much closer to their goal of pain relief. Contact us today to learn more about our options for you!