Advanced Pain Management for Sciatica Pinched Nerves and Bulging Discs
The longest nerve in the human body is known as the sciatic nerve. It spans the length of the spinal cord and down the back of each one of your legs, passing through the buttocks and hips. Sciatica involves the radiation of pinched nerve pain starting from the sciatic nerve and following along its related branches, which extend through the buttocks down into the leg. Before seeking a chiropractor for sciatica pain in Tulsa, OK, it’s important to know what this pain actually is.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is the symptom of a problem and not an actual condition. The pain associated with sciatica actually signifies medical problems connected to the nerve, such as when a disc is herniated or a nerve is being pinched. This affliction can be very painful; often, though, the pain will disappear without intervention within a couple of weeks or a few months. The range of pain can go from a slight, occasional ache to a burning sensation. Some people will feel as if they have received an electric shock with certain movements, especially when you suddenly sneeze without warning. Sitting for long periods of time can also trigger symptoms of sciatica pain.
Other symptoms of sciatic include weakness or numbness in your leg and feet muscles. Occasionally, you may have pain in one area of your leg but other parts will feel numb. A feeling of having a tingly pins-and-needles sensation may also occur in your toes and feet. A very serious symptom that is rare but can occur includes the loss of bladder or bowel control. Seek emergency medical care immediately if this occurs. It is a rare condition known as cauda equine syndrome.
Sciatica Pinched Nerve and Bulging Disc Causes:
Sciatic pinched nerve pain is often caused when the nerves of your lower spine compress, such as when a disc herniates. The discs are part of the cartilage that separates the vertebrae in your spine, and they are filled with a gel-like substance to remain flexible and work like a vehicle’s shocks. If the disc tears, the gel can leak out and the nerve root starts getting pressured, triggering pain in your back and legs. Violent trauma suffered by the body, such as a car accident or a fall, can cause herniated discs.
Another cause of sciatica pain includes lumbar spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of parts of your spine. Degenerative disc disease can also cause displaced vertebrae, which pinch the nerves in the back. In rare circumstances, the sciatic nerve itself can be directly injured or affected by a medical condition, such as a tumor.
As mentioned, mild sciatica will go away on its own with rest and time. Sciatica pain and symptoms lasting longer than a week or that get worse each day will require medical intervention. You should also seek a chiropractor for sciatica pain in Tulsa, OK, for help if your pain is the result of an injury for a complete diagnosis. Pain medications may help control more intense pain.
Physical therapy and chiropractic care can help relieve the pinched nerve pressure, reducing the pain in the sciatic nerve. Exercises and strength training can help build more supportive muscles, so your back is stronger and more flexible.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
