Chiropractor for Sciatica
If you have a shooting pain running from your lower back down your legs, you probably know that you need to get it checked out. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong, and in this case, it’s telling you that you have a problem with the longest nerve in your body.
The sciatic nerve can flare up for a number of reasons - trapped nerves, disc herniation and Piriformis syndrome, to name just a few. But the good news is that your chiropractor at Health HQ will be able to treat sciatica gently and naturally.
You can consult our Chiropractors if you have any of these classic Sciatica symptoms:
Leg pain that gets worse when you sit down
A tingling or burning sensation in your leg
Numbness, weakness or difficulty moving your foot or leg
A consistent pain on one side of the lower back
Pain that makes it difficult to stand up
What can a chiropractor do for sciatica?
From diagnosis to therapy, our chiropractors will use your medical history and a variety of noninvasive methods to find the source of your sciatica pain and treat it.
The exact sciatica treatment you receive will depend on your body. We often use a combination of a variety of techniques, whether it’s advice on using hot or cold, massage, spinal manipulation and advice on changes you can implement at home and at work, your chiropractor’s methods will be tailored to your needs.
FAQs
+ How do I know if I have sciatica?
The term “Sciatica” is used as a bit of a catchall term for any kind of leg pain, but in reality it’s a bit more intricate than that. Sciatica means irritation of the Sciatic nerve, which is the biggest nerve outside your spinal cord. There are a few things that can irritate the Sciatic nerve and a number of things that can cause symptoms very similar to Sciatica. Working out exactly what is causing these common symptoms can be tricky. Fortunately, the most common causes aren’t serious, but if left they can deteriorate and become VERY painful, so getting properly assessed by a trained professional is definitely recommended.
+ Who can go to a chiropractor for sciatica?
The short answer is anyone and everyone! We assess and then choose the best tools and techniques to use based on the individual. No two people are the same and we would never treat that way. People of every size, shape and age can see a chiropractor. Your individual requirements will always be discussed with you before we start care.
+ What is the best treatment for sciatica?
This very much depends on the underlying cause and how irritated things are. We use a wide variety of different tools and techniques to make sure that we can offer the most suitable treatment options to you depending on what is causing your condition and how bad it is. Typically we use a combination of treatments for the soft tissues, such as massage and dry needling (similar to acupuncture) in combination with treatments such as chiropractic adjustments (clicks and pops) and advice on things that can be done between treatments to aid recovery, such as heat or ice, postural changes and exercise.
+ Should I see a doctor or chiropractor for sciatica?
This is a good question. You can see either. Or both! A GP can advise you, or even prescribe you medication that can help manage the symptoms and also refer you to a physiotherapist. Chiropractors will directly assess you, which can include x-rays (if necessary) and take a more hands-on approach to treatment (Did you know that chiropractic means practiced by hand?). Also, you don’t have to see your GP in order to go to a chiropractor, you can go direct.
+ What shouldn’t I do if I have sciatica?
You shouldn’t ignore it. Check in with somebody about it - whether it’s your GP or one of our chiropractors. Although nothing is going to fall off - phew - we can see people in a lot of pain that could have been avoided if they got checked sooner. We all know prevention is better than cure. We are always happy to help or answer any questions you may have and there is never any obligation for treatment. We just recommend that you get some medical professional to check it.
Here’s what a few of our patients say…
Are we sitting comfortably?
What should I do to help myself when I’m in pain?