Sciatica: The River of Nerves
How do you know if you have sciatica?
- Pain in the buttocks or leg that worsens when sitting
- Burning or tingling down one or both legs
- Weakness, numbness or difficulty using your leg or foot
- A shooting pain that makes standing difficult
If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re likely in your 40’s or 50’s and have pain when coughing, sneezing or any kind of movement. You probably have sciatica.
Like a large river created by smaller streams, four or five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form the two sciatic nerves. The soft pulpy disc between each spinal bone is often involved. While a disc can’t “slip,” it can bulge, herniate or rupture. This can put direct pressure on the nearby nerves. The result? Swelling. Inflammation. Pain.
Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also radiate down to the foot or toes.
“While sciatica can be distracting,” observes Dr. Marsteller, “if attended to promptly it rarely produces permanent nerve damage.”
The only challenge seems to be impatient patients who expect instant results. Unlike artificial solutions such as drugs or more drastic surgery, the intent of chiropractic care is to help restore the proper relationships between bones, discs and nerves. This natural approach, relying on the healing ability of your body, moves at its own pace. Do you know someone who could be helped?
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