Have you had shooting pain down your leg?

This is often a description of sciatic pain and it can be extremely uncomfortable, so it is not surprising that at Chiro & Co. we regularly see people for this complaint.

There can be a number of possible causes and most are manageable by Chiropractors.

Our Chiropractors are trained & experienced in Sciatica Treatment Perth.

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What is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs from the lower back, through the buttock, down the back of your leg and to your foot. When there is irritation or compression on the nerve you may experience sciatic type symptoms.

Most commonly, a scan (X-ray, MRI) is not required to diagnose sciatica. Findings such as disc bulges or degeneration can show up on scans of people without pain. You can think of these findings as “wrinkles” of your musculoskeletal system.

Most sciatic improves within weeks to months with the correct management and care and won’t cause long lasting damage.

If you do start to experience pain in both legs, trouble controlling your bowel or bladder or severe weakness or numbness in your legs, then you should seek immediate medical attention.

Are you experiencing any of these Sciatica symptoms?

Pain down the back of the leg
Pain when bending, lifting, sneezing or coughing
Sharp, pinching, “nerve” like pain
Numbness, tingling or pins & needles in the leg
Difficulty finding a comfortable position when sleeping
Worse with prolonged sitting

What are some common causes of Sciatica?

Sciatic nerve irritation can be caused by:

Disc Bulge: Where the disc inflammation or disc material can irritate or put pressure on the nerve.
Degeneration: Where the normal aging process of our spine can result in the narrowing of the canal the nerve travels through.
Muscle Related: The sciatic nerve travels through the buttock region, nearby muscle tension or strain can cause irritation of the nerve.
Spondylolisthesis: Where there is forward slippage of one vertebrae (spinal bone) on another, which can put pressure on the nerve. Usually this is caused by traumatic sports (AFL, Rugby) or something present at birth and exacerbated in your lifetime.

need sciatica pain relief?

How to get relief from Sciatica Pain?

There is evidence to suggest that sciatic type pain can benefit from a combination of pain relief (heat), exercise and manual therapy, which can reduce pain and increase functionality.

Manual therapy is less invasive and is recommended to trial before more invasive options (i.e. surgery or injections).

Our top approaches for Sciatica Pain Relief:

Joint Manipulations & Mobilisations: These allow for movement through the joints and muscles, and help to release pressure on the structures around the painful area.
Soft Tissue Muscle Release (Trigger point therapy, Dry needling, Vibration massage): The surrounding muscles may also feel tense and stiff as they are protecting the painful area.
Strengthening/Stretching Exercises: These can range from gentle/easy movements to more complex movements depending on your function and discomfort level. Our aim is to strengthen the surrounding structures of the low back so you can get back to your everyday life. The strengthening exercises should be directed by your Health Professional as the exercises will be specific to what your body needs.
Nerve Flossing: Moving the nerve back and forth through a gliding motion is a simple technique to decrease nerve tension and pain.

At Chiro & Co. we recommend having a thorough History & Examination of your specific case to assess the cause. There are many things that can mimic or present very similar to Sciatica.

If you would like to speak to our Chiropractors about your sciatic pain, contact us with the link below

location of sciatica treatment perth

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