What is Sciatica?

Sciatica pain is often very difficult for many sufferers. Sciatica neuropathic pain is one that travels from the buttocks to the legs; the wretched nerve pain affects nearly 40% of the population. As the longest nerve in your body, the pain can affect one leg or both. Using a functional approach to treatment, qualified specialists can correct the underlying conditions that cause this troubling pain. An integrative and functional approach to medicine provides long-lasting relief for the patient. The key is to determine the cause of sciatica and not only treat the pain, but the cause of the neuropathy. That is what functional medicine is all about-treating the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms.

Sciatica is most often caused by muscle strain in the lower back or an accident. The best treatment for sciatic nerve pain relief is a combination of chiropractic, and dry needling. An of course, nutrition and rest. Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or arnica can also be helpful. More chronic pain may require treatment of a herniated or degenerative disc.

Dr. Viet Le of the ACN Wellness Clinic in Vienna Virginia is a Board-Certified Chiropractic Physician who offers relief to those with sciatica. Using a holistic approach and taking the time to understand any underlying medical issues that cause the pain provides a positive outcome for the patient.

Dr. Le provides treatments such as:

  • Corrective Chiropractic
  • Functional Medicine
  • Spinal Decompression
  • Custom Orthotics
  • Specialized Postural Correction

Taking the functional approach to medicine provides relief for many ailments without the need for invasive surgeries. Dr. Le focuses on the patient’s whole body and not just the symptoms. More invasive options for treatment such as surgery is only recommended if other types of treatment fail to provide pain relief.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Symptoms of sciatica vary in intensity and the affected area. Some patients may feel pain in the lower back where others feel it in the legs. Typically, this pain follows the path of the sciatic nerve in the body. Symptoms include:

  • Lower back pain
  • Pain that gets worse when sitting; especially in the back of the leg
  • Pain in the hips
  • A burning or tingling sensation that travels down the leg
  • The leg feels numb or weak, it can also cause difficulty moving the leg or foot
  • Pain on one side of the rear that is constant
  • A “shooting” pain that leads to difficulty standing

Patients often complain of constant pain that gradually worsens while others see an immediate onset of the condition. Although the symptoms vary diagnosis of sciatica is possible with the help of qualified professionals.

Who Suffers from Sciatica?

Sciatica is often caused by injury, especially from a painful herniated disc. This nerve pain is caused by unnatural pressure on the nerve. Those who suffer are generally:

  • Males, men are three times more likely to have sciatica neuropathy than females
  • Adults between the ages of 40 and 50 years old
  • People with diabetes and other autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s – more likely to have peripheral neuropathy which leads to sciatic nerve pain
  • People with back or injuries to the spine
  • Sufferers of spinal stenosis – The narrowing of bone openings surrounding the nerve

Anyone can suffer from sciatica, but it is more prevalent in aging men and those with injuries. Sciatica is a symptom of another medical issue and not a diagnosis.

What Causes Sciatica?

Many factors impact the sciatic nerve. Many people with this type of pain suffer due to work or life choices. As the body reacts to a person’s daily habits this pain may result. Some causes that contribute to sciatica are:

  • Aging – The body begins to break down over time causing spinal components to shift adding pressure to the nerve
  • Certain lifelong careers – Jobs that put a lot of stress on the lower back and include; heavy lifting, long periods spent sitting, and twisting movements
  • Smoking cigarettes – Smoking can contribute to the outer layers of the disks to degrade over time

As sciatica is a symptom of another issue the above-listed causes are often related to undue pressure on the Sciatic nerve.

Medical Conditions Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica is the term used to describe the pain that results from irritation to the sciatic nerve. Although there are several reasons for the pain, the most common is a herniated disk which makes up for approximately 90% of this pain. Other causes include:

  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis – The narrowing of the spine
  • Spondylolisthesis – This happens when a disk slips forward above the vertebra
  • Tumors in the spine – Tumors will compress the roots of the Sciatic nerve
  • Infection in the spine – Infections that affect the spine may cause undue pressure on the nerve leading to pain
  • Spine injuries – Damage to the spine causing sciatica
  • Cauda equina syndrome – Although this is rare it is a condition that is serious and requires immediate medical attention.

Each patient may experience a different reason for the sciatic nerve pain. Most conditions are easily treated with holistic and natural approaches to treatment such as exercises and chiropractic therapy. Nutrition is important. Sometimes adding vitamins and minerals and other dietary foods can make all the difference. If your body has been deficient in Vitamin D and K, that can lead to weaker disc and herniation. Correcting dietary deficiencies is a critical part of getting better in any disease process. It is like fighting a disease with a handicap.

Sciatic Relief: An Integrative and Functional Approach

Understanding the root causes of the sciatic nerve pain is vital to the treatment. Upon realization of the root cause, the well-trained doctors at ACN Wellness Center are better able to treat the painful condition.

Whether the condition is caused by a medical condition or something that results from a habit like poor posture or smoking is the reason functional medicine is so important for effective treatment options. There is no way you will ever getting better, if the cause of your problem is not addressed.

By treating the underlying conditions of the pain; the patient will experience relief.

For those who suffer from a slipped disk in the spine, there are non-surgical options that remove the pressure from the nerve. Providing long-lasting relief to those who are affected is the ultimate goal of caregivers and functional medical practices.

How to Relieve Sciatica?

Many people suffer from sciatica because of posture or misalignment in the spine. These conditions can be easily corrected with Chiropractic medicine.

Strengthening the muscles in an integrative part of healing the body and relieving pain. There are exercises that the patient can perform at home to correct the nerve pain. Stretching and building the muscle that supports the lower back and the Sciatic nerve has proven beneficial for many patients.

Contact us for Sciatica Relief

ACN Wellness Center is here to help! Our qualified medical professionals would like to meet with you to better understand your needs and finally provide you with the relief you need! Give us a call at 703-729-5600.