Sciatica, it’s a pain in the butt!

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica itself is not a diagnosis but rather a symptom experienced by the individual as a result of some compression of the sciatic nerve within the body, usually within the pelvis. True sciatica is pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, which runs down one or both legs. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body, starting from the lower back and running all the way down the back of the leg to the foot.

Why do you get sciatica?

Sciatica can occur at any age however people between the ages of 30 and 50 are more likely to develop the symptom. Pregnant women are also commonly affected due to the pressure of the weight of the developing baby.

There are many conditions that can cause sciatica and include lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis. Some of these occur more commonly than others and in some circumstances you can have more than one condition at a time.

Can Chiropractic help with Sciatica?

Chiropractors can not only help with relieving the symptom of sciatica but more importantly can diagnose the actual cause of it! Our Chiropractors, Dr Quyen Trinh and Dr Jen May Chang, located in the Belconnen region of Canberra, can tailor a treatment plan to not only get you out of pain but prevent the likelihood of its returning.

The purpose of Chiropractic treatment is to help the body’s nervous system to function optimally which gives the body the best chance to heal itself. Chiropractic is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain, dysfunction and reduced performance. Chiropractors aim to restore full spinal motion which allows for proper function of the entire body. The type of Chiropractic treatment administered will depend on the cause of the sciatica as every case and every person is different. Along with regular Chiropractic adjustments the practitioner may also suggest exercises or offer lifestyle advice to help provide you with the best outcome.

Another treatment option is acupuncture for sciatica. Our Chinese medicine practitioner Anne Chalmers may also be able to assist you with your sciatica. Acupuncture and Chiropractic work very well together to relive the symptoms of sciatica as well as treating the underlying cause.