Sciatica can cause significant debility, interfering with work, school, social activities and even sleep. At Dynamic Integrative Health, patients from the Fresno, California, area receive customized, holistic care to relieve sciatica and the pain and other symptoms it can cause.
The sciatic nerve is a very long nerve – the longest in the body – that exits the spine near the lower back and branches off into two sections, each of which travels down a leg. When the sciatic nerve becomes pinched or irritated where it exits the spine in the lower back, it can cause a painful condition known as sciatica.
Sciatica can have several different causes, including:
Sciatica can cause localized pain or ache in the lower back, but most people with sciatica primarily complain of radiating pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensations that extend through the buttocks and down the leg. Pain can be sharp or dull, and sometimes, electric-like shocks can occur. Sciatica may affect one or both legs, and painful symptoms may occur when the patient is standing, sitting or even lying down at rest. Often, symptoms are severe enough to interfere with sleep or work.
Because sciatica occurs when the nerve is compressed or irritated as it exits the spine, treatment must be focused on relieving that compression and irritation. Chiropractic adjustments often play a leading role in treating sciatica, especially for people who experienced the condition recurrently or for long periods of time. Adjustments promote ideal spinal alignment to reduce nerve compression in the lower back where the sciatic nerve exits the spine. Plus, adjustments combined with massage and therapeutic exercise can help reduce inflammation and promote better circulation for faster healing in the area. When herniated discs are involved, injections may also help speed relief by reducing inflammation so the discs can resume their normal positions. And, of course, lifestyle changes may also help relieve pain and other symptoms.
At Dynamic Integrative Health, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed.