Sciatica (What you need to know + tips for relief)

Author: CCA Staff Team Date: Sep 13, 2019 Blog, Chiropractic Expertise, Low Back Pain

Have you ever had pain radiate from your low back, through your hips, and down one leg? If so, you may have experienced sciatica. What exactly is it, and what can you do to treat the pain? In this blog post, we will explore what you need to know plus offer some tips for relief.

What is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve runs down the length of each leg, starting in your low back and ending at the heels of your feet. Sciatica is a term used to describe the pain caused by irritation of that nerve. Health professionals have a variety of names for it, including lumbosacral radicular syndrome, discogenic sciatica, nerve root pain, and nerve root entrapment, 1 but sciatica is the most common term.

Sciatica is different from low back pain in that it results from the sciatic nerve, rather than the spine. This nerve serves an important function, affecting the hamstrings, calf muscles, lower leg muscles, and some foot muscles.2 In many cases, the pain gets worse with twisting, bending, sneezing or coughing.2

What causes sciatic pain?

Researchers estimate that 90 per cent of cases are caused by a herniated disc where the nerve root is compressed – something that may occur as a result of an injury, or age-related wear and tear.5 Other possible causes include lumbar stenosis1, or piriformis syndrome.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Patients most often complain about pain radiating down the back of their leg, reducing their mobility.1, 2

Who is most at risk for sciatica?

More research is needed to determine the exact incidence and prevalence of sciatica. It is estimated that five to 10 per cent of patients with low back pain have it, 1 and 10 to 40 per cent of people experience it in their lifetime.2

There are certain risk factors that increase the chance of developing sciatica. These include: 1

Age
Height
Mental stress
Cigarette smoking

In addition, certain occupations are predisposed to sciatic nerve pain, including machine operators and truck drivers.2

How is sciatica diagnosed?

When a patient complains of pain radiating down their leg, a chiropractor will typically conduct a full history and physical examination to determine whether the sciatic nerve is to blame.1 Chiropractors often work as part of a patient’s health care team. If there are red flags present – such as if Cauda Equina syndrome is suspected – the chiropractor will recommend advanced imaging to determine if surgery should be considered.1

How is sciatica treated?

There are a variety of treatments that chiropractors can offer, including recommendations on lifestyle changes. These include:

Physical activity
Acupuncture
Spinal manipulation

What can you do at home?

Talk to your chiropractor to ensure you are doing everything you can to improve your condition at home. He or she may recommend one or more of the following: 2

Use hot and cold packs for comfort
Avoid sitting or standing for long periods
Practice good posture
Improve your core strength through exercise
Gently stretch out your lower back and hamstrings
Take a walk regularly, go swimming, or try aqua fitness
Use the proper technique when lifting heavy objects

How can you prevent sciatica?

You can reduce the chances of developing sciatica by exercising regularly and paying attention to your posture.3 Try the following exercises if you’re looking for inspiration, but the most important thing is to find an activity you enjoy: 4

Walking
Jogging
Swimming
Cycling
Dancing
Strength training
Yoga
Tai Chi
Pilates

Chiropractors are spine, muscle, and nervous system experts who provide effective treatment to promote health, alleviate pain, and improve your quality of life. If you’re struggling with sciatica and want relief, visit a chiropractor today. And remember – you can always ask questions and take an active role in your recovery.raph here. 

• Causes
• Types
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Outlook
• Q&A

Wry neck, or torticollis, is a painfully twisted and tilted neck. The top of the head generally tilts to one side while the chin tilts to the other side.

This condition can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired. It can also be the result of damage to the neck muscles or blood supply. Wry neck sometimes goes away without treatment. However, there’s a chance of relapse.

Chronic wry neck can cause debilitating pain and difficulty performing daily tasks. Fortunately, medications and therapies can relieve pain and stiffness. Surgery can also sometimes correct the condition. Treatment is most successful if it’s started early. This is especially true for children.

Wry neck can be inherited. It can also develop in the womb. This may happen if your baby’s head is in the wrong position. It can also be due to damage to the muscles or blood supply to the neck.

Anyone can develop wry neck after a muscle or nervous system injury. However, most of the time, the cause of wry neck is unknown. This is referred to as idiopathic torticollis.

This type of wry neck usually disappears after one or two days. It can be due to:

• swollen lymph nodes
• an ear infection
• a cold
• an injury to your head and neck that causes swelling

Fixed torticollis is also called acute torticollis or permanent torticollis. It’s usually due to a problem with the muscular or bone structure.

This is the most common type of fixed torticollis. It results from scarring or tight muscles on one side of the neck.

This is a rare, congenital form of wry neck. It occurs when the bones in your baby’s neck form incorrectly, notably due to two neck vertebrae being fused together. Children born with this condition may have difficulty with hearing and vision.

This rare disorder is sometimes referred to as spasmodic torticollis. It causes neck muscles to contract in spasms. If you have cervical dystonia, your head twists or turns painfully to one side. It may also tilt forward or backward. Cervical dystonia sometimes goes away without treatment, but there’s a risk of recurrence.

Cervical dystonia can happen to anyone. However, it’s most commonly diagnosed in people who are roughly ages 40 to 60. It also affects more women than men.