We take the nerves for granted until something goes wrong. The sciatic nerve is a major nerve that begins in the middle of your back and goes down through your legs. When something goes wrong with your spine, such as a herniated disc, it creates pressure on your sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. Dr. Buda at Centennial Wellness Center in Las Vegas would like to look at what you need to know about sciatica.
Sciatic Nerve Pain
One of the most common symptoms of sciatica is pain. The pain varies for each person depending on how badly the sciatic nerve is being pressed. The pain is often described as burning, shooting, or electric. For some people, it may be more of a chronic ache. The pain gets worse as you move, especially if you have to make a sudden, jerking movement like when you hiccup or sneeze.
Other Symptoms of Sciatica
Besides pain, the other common symptoms of sciatica include:
- Tingling, usually in the leg, but it can be in the back or buttocks
- Numbness can be in small areas of your back, buttock, or leg
- Weakness in a leg
- Usually, only one side of the body is affected, but sometimes, the symptoms can manifest on both sides
An uncommon symptom of sciatica is incontinence. Your sciatic nerve plays a part in signaling when you need to go to the bathroom.
The Dangers of Self-Diagnosis
If you are reading this and all of the symptoms sound like the ones you have, do not jump to the conclusion that you have sciatica. Other conditions produce the same symptoms, including diabetic neuropathy and piriformis syndrome. Let your chiropractor diagnose your symptoms so that you can get the right kind of treatment.
Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
A chiropractor can help your sciatica in many ways. One of the most common is spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation helps to align your spine and muscles to take pressure off of your sciatic nerve. This helps reduce your pain and other symptoms as well as helps you to relax.
Lifestyle and Nutritional Advice
What you eat, what you drink, and even your posture can have significant impacts on your sciatica. Chiropractors can help with all of these variables. Since people with sciatica tend to be overweight, making a few changes to your diet is critical.
E-stim
Short for electrical stimulation, E-stim improves your circulation, massages your muscles, and provides pain relief. This is particularly good for sciatica caused by a herniated disc.
Contact Our Chiropractor in Las Vegas, NV
There is no need to suffer from sciatic nerve pain. If you live in the Las Vegas area, contact Centennial Wellness Center to schedule an appointment with Dr. Buda. Call our team today at (702) 458-2225 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.
