Sciatica Specialist

What is sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain that begins in your lower back or buttock and travels down your leg, sometimes all the way to your foot and toes. The pain may be a mild ache or an excruciating pain. It may hurt more when you cough or sneeze or after sitting for a long time. You may also feel tingling or numbness in the leg.

It’s called sciatica because it’s caused by the sciatic nerves, which travel from the base of the spinal cord down each leg. The pain and symptoms of sciatica arise when the nerve is pinched or compressed at the spinal cord.

What causes sciatica?

The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disc in the spine, which pushes against the nerve. However, sciatica can be a symptom of other problems with the spine, including:

• Spasm in a muscle near the nerve
• Vertebra that’s out of alignment
• Arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Bone spurs
• Pinched nerve caused by injury

Are you at risk for sciatica?

Your risk for sciatica increases as you get older because long-term pressure on the lower back often leads to herniated disks. Age isn’t the only factor that increases your risk though. The following conditions up your risk of developing sciatica:

• Being overweight, because it increases the stress on your spine
• A sedentary lifestyle or making a habit of prolonged sitting
• An occupation that requires you to lift heavy loads, twist your back, or stay seated for a long time
• Having diabetes, because high blood sugar may cause nerve damage that affects the sciatic nerve

How does chiropractic therapy help sciatica?

Chiropractic therapies offer a conservative treatment option that relieves sciatica by realigning the spine and increasing spinal mobility. Your treatment begins with a thorough examination and development of a treatment plan that focuses on the underlying cause of your sciatica.

Since Dr. McMillin is highly experienced in diverse chiropractic therapies, he can easily customize a treatment plan. He may use spinal decompression therapy, which gently stretches the spine to relieve pressure on the nerve, or spinal adjustments to realign the spine. He will also consider trigger point therapy, therapeutic massage, and cold laser therapy, to name just a few options.

At our state-of-the-art facility, we offer functional rehabilitation and postural screening, which is important since your posture has a significant impact on your lower spine. Don’t wait to get relief from your pain. Contact us to schedule an appointment and learn how chiropractic improves your sciatica.