Despite popular belief, sciatica is a term that describes pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling that affects your lower back and possibly buttocks and legs rather than a condition. No matter the definition, sciatica can interfere with your life. Fortunately, though, our Lakeville chiropractor at Enlighten Chiropractic can assist. It helps to know the causes, so you may either prevent it or know if sciatica could be your problem.
Car Accident
During a car accident, the impact can cause a variety of issues that can wreak havoc on almost any part of your body. With that being said, it’s common for back pain after an accident, particularly sciatica. Often, this stems from a slightly spinal misalignment, herniated disc, or another issue affecting your sciatica nerve. Our auto accident chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, can help with sciatica or any other back problems.
Slips and Falls
As a chiropractor for personal injury in Lakeville, our practitioner sees patients regularly who have sciatica as a result of a slip and fall. The impact can temporarily damage the sciatic nerve. On the other hand, the fall could lead to a herniated disc, which can place pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to nerve-related symptoms.
Pregnancy
If you’ve never been pregnant, you may have heard that back pain is common. And if you’ve been pregnant, you know that it’s a common problem. You’re changing your center of gravity and stressing your back. Moreover, you could develop sciatica in either the first trimester or third. In the first, hormonal changes lead to sciatica. However, in the third trimester, you may develop it due to the unborn baby placing pressure on the nerve, causing your symptoms.
Age
Changes in the discs happen with age. They become less flexible and tear more easily. This can increase your risk of a herniated or bulging disc. Although a bulging disc is less likely to cause symptoms, a herniated disc commonly causes symptoms, including sciatica. The contents of your disc will place pressure on the nerve.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis, though related to age, could trigger sciatica symptoms. With this particular condition, your spinal canal narrows. It then can place pressure on your nerves, including the sciatic nerve.
Diabetes
While diabetes alone won’t contribute to sciatica, it can when your condition is uncontrolled or poorly managed. The excessive sugar levels in your system will damage your nerves. And when it affects the sciatic nerve, it will contribute to sciatica.
How We Help
Our practitioner can help you manage your symptoms and promote healing, if possible. Our Lakeville chiropractor will provide you with a customized treatment plan based on the cause of your sciatica. This is why before we begin coordinating a plan, our practitioner will provide you with a comprehensive evaluation. It’ll entail gathering information about your medical history, and our practitioner asking you to move the body part and assess your range of motion and place pressure on the region to find tight areas.
Next, our practitioner may recommend a spinal adjustment. During this treatment, our chiropractor will ask you to lie on a table. He or she will then manually move the vertebrae in your back slightly by placing controlled pressure on the area. In return, the vertebrae will realign, and it’ll ease pressure on the nerve. You may receive another treatment or lifestyle changes as well to assist.
Our Lakeville chiropractor at Enlighten Chiropractic can help if you have sciatica for any of these reasons or others. Our practitioners are knowledgeable about the condition and offer techniques that are safe and may better manage your condition or aid in the healing process.
Contact us today by calling 952-232-1935. We also have an online contact form.