Sciatica

You may struggle with lower back pain before sciatica hits, and then you’ll experience debilitating, electric-shock pain that suddenly shoots down one leg. Experienced chiropractor Aaron Martin, DC, and the skilled professionals at Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries in Altoona, Ankeny, and Grimes, Iowa, safely decompress the nerve, easing your pain and restoring optimal mobility. Call the nearest office or book online today to learn about your chiropractic options for healing sciatica.

What is sciatica?

Your sciatic nerve begins in your lower back (lumbar spine), traveling through the left and right buttocks and down both legs to your feet.

Sciatica refers to a specific symptom you experience when the nerve is pinched: sharp, severe pain that suddenly goes down one leg. You may also have lower back pain and tingling or burning sensations in your leg. Severe nerve damage can cause numbness and muscle weakness in the affected leg.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica usually begins when one of the following spine conditions compresses the nerve:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bone spurs
• Thickened ligaments
• Facet joint arthritis
• Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra)
• Spinal stenosis

Though not as common, you can also develop sciatica when the nerve is pinched by buttock muscles, a condition called piriformis syndrome.

When should I seek treatment for sciatica?

You should see the team at Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries if mild sciatic doesn’t improve in one week. During that time, applying ice packs to your lower back (for 15 minutes at a time, several times daily) may reduce the inflammation and ease your pain. 

You can rest for a few days but no longer because the problem worsens with inactivity. Gentle stretches and walking promote healing and reduce pain.

However, you should seek chiropractic care when:

• Movement increases the pain
• The pain lasts longer than one week
• You have severe pain
• You have leg numbness or weakness
• Sciatica occurs after an injury

You should also get immediate attention if your sciatica makes it hard to control your bladder or bowels.

How is sciatica treated?

The team at Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries provides painless, effective treatment for sciatica and leg pain. They have years of training and experience performing numerous chiropractic techniques that successfully ease your symptoms, including:

• Spinal manipulation
• Cox® Technic
• Multiwave Locked System® (MLS®) laser therapy
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• Trigger point therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Acupuncture

Your treatment usually focuses on the lower back where sciatica originates. However, lower back and leg pain force you to change how you move, putting unusual stress on the joints and muscles in your legs and hips. The Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries team effectively treats leg and joint pain with extremity adjustments. 

Call Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries today or request an appointment online to get relief from sciatica.