Sciatica is an incapacitating condition that brings pain from the lower back down the back of each leg. It is a prevalent pain disorder around the world, affecting about 40% of people at least once in their lifetime.

The pain of sciatica can show up in many ways and vary from person to person. It can be severe for some people but infrequent and mild for others. In general, sciatica pain can be irritating and has the potential to get worse.

Some of the symptoms of sciatica include the following:

• Pain
• Weakness
• Numbness
• Tingling

These sensations may affect certain areas of the body:

• Lower back
• Hips
• Back of the thighs
• Buttocks
• Calf
• Toes

Wherever you feel pain in your lower body, to get relief you must discover the root cause of it. Different treatments and medications may give temporary aid, but symptoms of sciatica will most likely return and get worse if the root cause is not addressed.

The Link Between the Sciatic Nerve and Spine

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It connects the nervous system to the hips, buttocks, back of the legs, thighs, and feet. It is in the same structure as the spinal cord in the lower back. An issue with the vertebrae or the discs in the lower back can stress and flare up the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica.

Furthermore, lower back problems may also be a result of issues occurring elsewhere in the spine. For example, a misalignment in the atlas vertebra (located at the top of the spine) can cause stress to the shoulders and hips, resulting to abnormal muscle tension and spasms throughout the mid and lower back. Unless the atlas is realigned, long-term relief from sciatica may be challenging to achieve.

Body Balance Spinal Care in Sacramento, California performs upper cervical chiropractic care to get to the root of many health conditions, including sciatica. This means we focus on your atlas alignment. If your atlas is in the wrong position, then the rest of your body can be hindered from working the way it was intended to. By correcting the position of the atlas if it is misaligned, the rest of the body can regain its ability to function properly. Our approach is gentle and accurate, with the goal of performing as few adjustments as possible to get your body back on the road to healing. Schedule an appointment with us and let a reliable upper cervical chiropractor help you find relief from your sciatica.  

References:

https://academic.oup.com/bja/article/99/4/461/305514/Sciatica-a-review-of-history-epidemiology

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/types-sciatic-nerve-pain

To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.

If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.