A chiropractor in Plano Texas often sees patients with lower back pain. Some find it to be the sciatic nerve. Sciatica refers to a lower back pain that extends from the hip down to the knee. The pain may be sharp and tingling, and can cause weakness in the leg and lower back. To provide relief for my patients, I use non-surgical techniques as part of my chiropractic practice.
The longest and most extensive nerve in your body is the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve branches at the base and runs along each side of your pelvic region, providing nerve impulses to your feet, legs, and butt. You’ve probably experienced sciatica. Some patients couldn’t even walk and could barely bend or stand. You can have problems with the sciatic nerve by poor posture while sitting, misalignment of your swing when playing golf and other things. Most of my patients recommend that they do some exercise and get plenty of rest while they recover. You will usually be back to normal in 2-3 weeks. You might consider having surgery if the pain continues for longer than two months. The article below will concentrate on other methods of treating this condition.
Chiropractic Alternatives and Treatments At Home
Heat packs and ice pack are two things I recommend immediately. They can both be combined or used in their own right. You can use either ice from a Ziploc bag, heated towels, or a heating pad if you don’t have over-the-counter packs. Each should be applied for at least 20-30 minutes. Then, repeat the process every two hours. This will provide relief for the patient until they can come to my office.
You can reduce your pain by using heat, ice and Tylenol. Epidural steroids injections are another option if you have severe pain. The epidural steroid injections differ from oral steroid medications in that the steroid is administered directly to an injured site. This should immediately relieve the pain. You must have this administered by a licensed medical specialist.
Alternate Chiropractic Treatment in my Office
Sometimes, chiropractors recommend that you exercise. Although it might seem counterproductive, mild exercises, along with other treatment options, can strengthen your lower back muscles and stomach muscles. The type of exercise that I recommend is simple stretching, which I suggest starting gradually and increasing in intensity as your recovery. This will help to reduce sciatica pain.
You can also use spinal decompression or cold laser therapy to relieve pain. My patients often require a combination or all of these techniques in order to relieve their sciatica pain. To relax patients’ muscles and improve blood flow and, most importantly, to release endorphins that are natural pain relievers, we use cold laser and various types of massage.
Acupuncture, which is becoming more popular for its effectiveness in treating back pain is the last. People think of acupuncture as being like a pin cushion. Although the original technique was developed in China, the FDA approved it for treating back pain. An acupuncturist who is qualified can help you relieve back pain. They simply need to insert thin needles in the areas where your discomfort occurs. Acupuncture works by balancing your body’s energy flow through the various channels. Although there is no way to prevent sciatica from returning, it can be prevented by following the recommendations of your chiropractor.