Do you or a family member suffer from the symptoms of sciatica? Our chiropractor and staff of Secrest Family Chiropractic in Scottsdale, AZ, would love to help you. Below are some frequently asked questions about sciatica.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica results from excess pressure placed on the sciatic nerve, causing pain. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It starts in the lower back and runs down both buttocks into the backs of your legs and feet.

What Causes Sciatica?

One of the most common causes of sciatica is a herniated disc in the lower part of your spine. A herniated disc may put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing pain. You are more likely to develop sciatica if you are between the ages of 40 and 50, have diabetes, are overweight or pregnant, sit for a long time, or lift heavy items. 

Other causes of sciatica include spondylolisthesis, lumbar spinal stenosis, muscle spasms, degenerative disc disease, and pregnancy. Spondylolisthesis is when a vertebra slips over another vertebra.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is when the spinal canal in your lower back narrows. Degenerative disc disease is when the discs in your back break down. These cushion your vertebrae.

What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica? 

The most common symptom of sciatica is pain that goes from your lower back to your legs. You might also feel tingling, numbness, or weakness in your foot or leg. The pain can be mild or severe. Other symptoms include tingling or burning felt in one leg and pain in your leg or buttocks that gets worse when you sit. If you have any of these symptoms, contact a chiropractor for help and pain relief.

More serious symptoms of sciatica are intense pain in the leg or lower back, weakness felt in the lower outside parts of the body, incontinence, and numbness felt in the leg. If you have any of these symptoms, contact our chiropractor right away.

How Can a Chiropractor Help?

A chiropractor can help in many ways. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and physical therapy can all help relieve symptoms of sciatica.

Realigning the neck and spine with chiropractic adjustments can reduce pain when there is no pressure on soft tissue. Acupuncture uses thin needles placed just under the skin to bring back balance to the body, promoting relaxation and sore muscle relief.

Scottsdale, AZ, Chiropractor

Make an appointment so that we can treat your sciatica. You can visit us at Secrest Family Chiropractic, 3350 N. Hayden Road, Suite 112 (next to OfficeMax) Scottsdale, AZ 85251. You can also make an appointment on the phone by calling us at (480) 994-4411.