Sciatica

Sciatica is different from common back pain. With this condition, you might feel pain or uncomfortable nerve sensations that run from your lower back and down one leg. Nerve sensations can include numbness, tingling, burning, and muscle weakness. The source of sciatica is nerve compression affecting the sciatic nerve. The key to effective sciatica treatment is to start with an examination. If you are dealing with sciatica, our team at First Coast Medical Center in Jacksonville, FL, can help you find relief.

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What Is Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body. The nerve branches out from the lumbar portion of the spine, passes through the hips, and extends down to the feet. When the vertebrae in the lumbar spine are misaligned, one or more branches of the nerve are compressed and cause irritation and inflammation. Chiropractic adjustments work to properly align the spine by removing compression from the sciatic nerve. In some cases, sciatica is caused by a herniated or slipped disk or narrowing of the spine. Typically, sciatica symptoms only impact one side of the body.

Sciatica Symptoms

A common symptom of sciatica is pain in the lower back, hips, and buttocks. This can cause pain in the legs and feet too. The intensity of the pain varies with the patient. Numbness in the leg is another symptom. This is caused by bone spurs and discs pressing on the sciatica nerve. Another symptom is tingling in the feet.

Swelling, weak muscles, and inflammation are also common symptoms of sciatica. If you are experiencing difficulty traversing staircases or walking, this may be due to sciatica. Other symptoms are lower back pain, problems with moving the legs, pain standing up or sitting down, a burning sensation, and discomfort on one side of the buttocks.

How We Can Help

Our chiropractor can help by using gentle manipulation to put your spine back into alignment and taking pressure off the nerve. Combining massage therapy with chiropractic treatment is another effective method of getting relief from sciatica. Chiropractic manipulation puts the vertebrae back into place while massage therapy helps the muscles relax making it easier for you to regain your ability to move freely. We take referrals from primary care physicians and design customized treatment programs for each patient.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Chiropractor for Sciatica Treatment in Jacksonville, FL

Call First Coast Medical Center today for more information or to schedule an appointment with our chiropractor.