A Brief Description Of Sciatica

By Pamela Lindi Joseph


Sciatic nerve pain, stemming from the lower back region is often referred to as sciatica. It is a common occurrence in many individuals today. Although the cause is located in the lumbar area of the spinal column, the severe pain is felt in the buttocks, hips or legs. The affected nerve is the largest and longest in the human body. When a sciatic disruption is present, the sufferer has difficulty in every position, including sleeping, standing, sitting and walking. Help is available, thanks to the natural and non-invasive techniques offered by chiropractic medicine.

In most instances, sciatic nerve pain originates in the lower back. It occurs when one of the two main branches of the nerve is compressed or irritated. Usually, the irritation is the result of disc issues. The disc may be compressed so that it bulges into the surrounding tissue. This condition is known as a bulging disc. The disc may also be described as herniated or ruptured, depending upon the type of damage that has occurred.

When the discs are compressed, it is usually due to a misalignment of the vertebrae column. The bones have insufficient room to provide space for the discs. The result is a bulge or herniation which extends into the surrounding nerve roots. The cushioning effect is lost, which can result in bone wear.

Traditional therapy for this type of pain involves surgery, or more often, painkillers, either over the country or prescription strength. These solutions are ineffective at best. Surgical procedures carry the risk of anesthesia and the recovery time can be significant. Long term use of pharmaceuticals can result in organ damage. Natural and non-invasive techniques such as those offered by chiropractic physicians are much safer, and generally more effective, especially over the long term.

In the United States, chiropractic manipulation of lumbar spine or lower back vertebrae is a preferred alternative medicine form of therapy. It is usually performed by chiropractors. The manipulation or adjustments may take the form of manual or machine-assisted methods.

Approximately nine out of ten patients report relief when chiropractic measures are applied. The common elements of therapy include traction, correction of misalignments, range of motion exercises and electrical muscle stimulation. Additional exercises are prescribed in order to loosen up and strengthen supporting muscles.

Even if patients have tried other forms of therapy with no success, chiropractic techniques are successful in almost sixty percent of sufferers. Other methods that are implemented usually are restricted to drugs or surgical procedures. The patient may also try physical therapy or acupuncture with little or no success.

Chiropractic care for sciatica is non-invasive. It is more cost effective than surgical procedures and results in a much shorter recovery time. It has been found that seeing a chiropractor first for sciatic nerve pain typically results in just over one patient per one hundred who go on to have surgery. When the surgeon is seen first, forty-three patients per one hundred undergo surgery.




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