Living with pain is something that nobody wants. When you suffer from chronic pain of any type, it’s likely that your life quality is reduced. You may find it harder to do things that you enjoy, which can easily lead to developing depression and anxiety. Beyond that, chronic pain can affect every area of your life, including your sleep quality and even your intimate life with romantic partners. Nobody should struggle with chronic pain, especially when that chronic pain is sciatica.
Sciatica is a painful issue that often involves a lot of different treatments. Most commonly, your doctor will try to prescribe a cocktail of painkillers, some of which are highly addictive. To avoid this, many people will look at other treatments to help treat their sciatica, including chiropractic care. But how can your Fort Lauderdale chiropractor help your sciatica? In more ways than you’d think!
Recurrence Prevention
Firstly, a chiropractor will assess the severity of your situation and will determine which treatment course would work best for you. Your chiropractor is usually determined to help prevent the recurrence of sciatica, allowing you to live your life normally without fear of recurring pain. To do this, your chiropractor will work with both you and your PCP to formulate a treatment plan that helps keep your sciatica pain and issues from acting up.
Most commonly, this will include a treatment plan consisting of:
- Regular chiropractic adjustments.
- At-home exercises to help ease your muscles and relieve pressure.
- Medications, whether OTC, prescribed, or holistic/natural.
- Recommended lifestyle changes, such as how you stand or sit, your activity levels, and sometimes even a change in diet.
- Heat or ice therapy to help relax muscles and nerve fibers in the body.
- Other therapies, such as acupuncture.
There are a variety of ways that your chiropractor will help keep your sciatica from recurring. Overall, your chiropractor will be dedicated to reducing and treating the pain your currently have, while also making sure it doesn’t return so easily in the future. Your chiropractor will go over all the possible treatments and will help you choose treatments that you’re comfortable with. Your chiropractor will make sure that your treatment plan is not only safe but also effective.
Common Chiropractic Methods
One of the core aspects of chiropractic treatment for sciatica involves utilizing chiropractic treatment methods. Your chiropractor is a trained professional with an arsenal of education, experience, and the necessary skill to help ease your sciatic issues. When you call on a chiropractor for help with sciatica, you’ll be subjected to an initial appointment to help determine the severity of your sciatic issues. From there, your chiropractor will create a treatment plan to help gain control of your pain and your life. This treatment plan will consist of common chiropractic treatment methods, including:
Chiropractic Massage Therapy:
This type of therapy involves an intense massage. This massage induces deep muscle relaxation, and releases endorphins. This helps ease your muscles while also helping your brain fight off pain. This massage type coaxes your muscles to function as they should and increases blood flow to help decrease inflammation. Doing so can help reduce your sciatic troubles.
Chiropractic Adjustments:
A chiropractic will apply spinal manipulation for a variety of reasons. These manipulations serve several purposes. They also can move discs back into position, taking pressure off your sciatic nerve. Your chiropractor may use quick thrusts at a high velocity, as well as a combination of gentle pressure and varying degrees of force to help align your vertebral discs. While this may sound scary, it’s a common practice that comes with low risk and a lot of benefit.
Spinal Decompression:
Sometimes when you suffer with herniated discs, your spinal vertebrae will dry. This makes it thinner and compressed, which can cause pain that your sciatica brings to your lower back. Your chiropractor may use traction and decompression therapy techniques to help stretch and lengthen your spine. This enhances the space in your vertebrae which results in a decompressed nerve and overall reduced pain. This therapy is optimal for herniated, bulging, and degenerating discs. Decompressing your spine allows the nerves to restore their signals, allowing nutrients to pass through and allows them to receive the minerals needed, as well as the space.
Heat and Ice Treatments:
Another common treatment for sciatica that your chiropractor may utilize is the use of heat and cold, or a combination. These tend to provide quick pain relief both before and during a session. The heat works to release tight muscles, allowing your chiropractor the optimal conditions to work. Meanwhile, cold therapy slows down blood flow and helps reduce swelling in the area. Your chiropractor will be able to decide which treatments work best for you and your situation, as well as which treatments you’re comfortable with.
Other Treatments
Visiting a chiropractor regularly is a good idea but is an even better idea should you struggle with sciatica. Your chiropractor will work with you closely to help treat your sciatica effectively. Your chiropractor is likely to also work your PCP to make sure that every treatment is as safe and effective as possible.
Beyond the methods discussed above, your chiropractor may also recommend other treatments such as:
- Frequent yoga exercises, whether at home or within a group. Yoga is a great way to improve blood flow and muscle tone, as well as flexibility.
- Electro-therapy options with your chiropractor. The use of electric bursts has been known to be an effective treatment when treating muscle and other neuromusculoskeletal issues, including sciatica.
- Weight loss, whether guided or not. In some cases, your chiropractor may suggest weight loss. Some sciatica pain and complications can be the result of extra weight pressing on joints, muscles, and other areas, causing the likelihood of pinched nerves and other troubles.
- Ultrasound therapy sessions with your chiropractor. Your chiropractor may also suggest the use of ultrasound waves to help relax tense muscles, allowing your spinal area to decompress and problem areas to relax, allowing the sciatic nerve more space, resulting in less pain.
And more!
Some chiropractors may suggest that you continue to take your pain medications, should they have been prescribed to you. However, many chiropractors will also help work with you to develop a plan that allows you to reduce your intake of pain relievers as well. Speak with your chiropractor about which treatments you’re most interested in, as well as your goals for your health. Your chiropractor will help work with you to formulate an effective treatment plan that you’re comfortable with.
There are a variety of worthwhile treatments that may help your sciatic pain, or even nearly cure it. From the use of massage techniques to more advanced treatments, your chiropractor has a variety of options that may help you live your life without constant sciatica pain and troubles. Nobody wants to live their lives with numb and tingling pain, and nobody has to, especially with the help of a chiropractor and a well-thought-out treatment plan. If you’re experiencing chronic sciatic issues, including pain, numbness, weakened grip strength and more, you may want to contact your chiropractor today to see how they can help you. Life is too short to live it in pain, especially when help is often just a phone call away.
