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Chiropractic
is a conservative approach to sciatic pain, which is one of the most
common and irritating problems today.
The word sciatica stems from the sciatic nerve root
bundle. This is the largest nerve in the human body, made up of two
nerves, the common peroneal and the tibialis nerve. This nerve exits
the spine in the low back and buttock regions through openings in the
lumbar and in the sacrum on both sides.
One of the most common initial causes leading to
sciatic pain is a misalignment of the spine or hip area called a
subluxation. When misalignments occur, a sensory signal is generated
from little alarms around the spine and hip area called proprioceptors.
These sensory signals then travel to the brain and a motor response,
meaning movement, is then sent back down the spine causing muscle
spasms, which leads to pain and fatigue at the level of discomfort.
Misalignments can be caused by different factors such
as bending, lifting, twisting, sneezing, strenuous exercise, sitting
for long periods of time, lifting weights improperly, bad posture,
obesity, congenital conditions, ergonomics at work, and bad body
mechanics. All of these can possibly contribute to abnormal spinal
curves which lead to instability throughout the spine.
Sciatic pain starts as low back pain,
when ignored the pain can continue as neuralgia following the course of the
sciatic nerve into the buttock, front and side of thigh, calf, and
eventually into the feet. With muscle spasms, sprain-strain or possible disc
herniation of the low back comes inflammation which also puts pressure on
the sciatic nerve. Finally, the patient seeks help, one of the more
conservative and less invasive treatments is chiropractic.
Sciatic pain is better treated with ice initially due to inflammation. This
helps to push fluids away therefore, reducing pressure and pain. The most
important part of the treatment is the chiropractic adjustment. As a doctor
of chiropractic and a licensed massage therapist, deep massage work is
incorporated into the treatment to reduce the muscle spasms.
As the treatment proceeds flexibility increases, muscle spasms decrease, and
the radiating pain begins to recede from the feet. It may take a long time
to get the neurological, skeletal, and muscular systems reeducated, put in
proper alignment, and functioning normally.
After the patient has attained improvement, it is important to continue on a
maintenance level and have your back adjusted regularly. If you keep your
spine aligned, you have less chance of injury or recurring sciatic pain.
However, if after an extensive examination, x-rays, and treatment, the pain
persists, the patient is then referred to a neurologist or orthopedist for
further consultation.
For further questions concerning information or treatment , please contact
Dr. June Gentle at (305) 668-3525, e-mail GentleJune@aol.com.
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