Sciatica

Are you suffering from sciatica? With over 20 years of practice as a chiropractor, Dr. Burak knows exactly what it takes to ease your pain. The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body and can cause extreme, debilitating pain. With three main areas that the sciatic nerve can be pinched, it is vital that you find a chiropractor who can identify the area of impingement and recommend the proper treatment for you. While prescription or over the counter medicine can decrease the pain that you’re experiencing temporarily, chiropractic treatment under the care of Dr. Burak can eliminate the pain and repair the sciatic impingement.

Types of Sciatic Impingement

Lumbar Spine

The lumbar spine is located at the base of the lower back. The L4 and L5 discs are the most common areas for sciatic impingement. In between the vertebrae, discs provide cushion and space for the nerves to exit the spinal cord. Each disc is made of two parts, the outer part known as the annulus fibrosis and the inner part, which is known as the nucleus fibrosis. 

If one or both discs become injured, the outer part can tear and, due to compressive forces, forces the inner part out. The protruding disc, commonly referred to as a bulge or herniation, can pinch the nerve root that exits between the two bones. This type of injury is caused by trauma, degenerative arthritis, accidents, falls, etc. 

Sacro-Iliac (S.I.) Joint

The Sacro-Ilicac joint is made up ilium (pelvis) and the sacrum.  Chronic non-function of the ilium on the sacrum can cause muscular compensation and pinch the nerve, which is called “sacro-iliac joint dysfunction”.  An impingement to the S.I. joint is a very common cause of lower back pain. During your first visit, Dr. Burak will determine if the sciatica is being affected in the lumbar spine or S.I. joint

Piriformis

The final place sciatic impingement can appear is in the piriformis, the 4th layer of muscle in the gluteal. It is a tiny muscle that lies on top of the sciatic nerve.  If the piriformis goes into muscular spasm, it can cause “piriformis” syndrome. This is very painful and is made worse when you sit down as the muscle pushes on the nerve.  

Types of Treatment

A chiropractor for sciatica can determine the proper of treatments for you, as treatments vary for each of the three causes of sciatica.  Specific chiropractic adjustments are imperative to easing sciatic pain, as vertebral segments need to be in proper alignment for the body to function to its optimum.  Misaligned vertebrae can cause a variety of symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, inflammation, reduced range of motion and more. Decades of misalignment can cause degenerative arthritis.  However, all of the above can be avoided with routine chiropractic adjustments by Dr. Burak.  

Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) 

VAX-D is a computer-regulated traction machine which causes negative intra-discal pressure on the disc or negative (IDP). It is a disc herniation treatment.  During this treatment, Dr. Burak uses a specific weight of pressure in a suction effect where the disc begins to retract off of the nerve. It’s like a jelly donut in which the donut has a slit in it.  Compressive forces make the jelly come out of the donut. Negative IDP retracts the jelly back into the donut by tractioning both halves of the donut. If the disc is hitting a nerve, as soon as that nerve is no longer touching it, you will have pain relief.  Each session with Dr. Burak is about 14 minutes in length and you usually feel relief within 8 sessions.

Laser Therapy 

Laser Therapy is another alternative treatment Dr. Burak provides for sciatica pain. Class IV laser therapy uses light energy to heal at the mitochondria - “the powerhouse” of the cell. Initially, with an acute or new disc injury, there is swelling and inflammation.  Laser therapy can help reduce the inflammation at the cellular level. Once the disc is no longer hitting the nerve, laser therapy can help heal the damaged disc. It is the only type of therapy than can create a healing response at the cellular level of any damaged tissue.

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Burak

When you need a chiropractor for sciatica, Dr. Mike Burak is dedicated to finding the right treatment for you. Dr Burak combine his skills and expertise to help you achieve your chiropractic wellness objectives. A visit with Dr. Burak is the beginning of your journey to a better and healthier way of life. From neck pain and headaches to lower back pain, disc herniation and sciatica, our team has the skills that span the entire chiropractic wellness spectrum. Patients treated at Huntingdon Valley Family Chiropractic Centre receive the finest quality care through the use of modern equipment and technology, while simultaneously becoming a part of the HVFCC family.

Location

Office Hours

Huntingdon Valley Family Chiropractic Centre

Monday:

8:30 am-12:30 pm

Tuesday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-12:30 pm

2:30 pm-7:00 pm

Thursday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-12:30 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed