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Sciatica and the chiropractic lifestyle
An all too common health complaint
T he sciatic nerves are the largest (and longest) nerves of your
body, reaching about the size of your thumb in diameter, and running
down the back of each leg. When these nerves are irritated or affected
by the inflammation of nearby soft tissues, doctors refer to this
as sciatica.
The Largest nerves of the body
Pain is caused when the sciatic nerve roots are irritated, scraped,
twisted, stretched or pinched as they exist the spine. Causes of
the impairment may be chemical, physical, or the emotional stress
of everyday living. A full-blown sciatic flare-up can involve the
entire sciatic nerve path resulting in symptoms of lower back pain,
burning, cramping, or numbness that radiates into the thighs, legs,
ankles, feet, and toes. Pain may also be limited to various points
along the nerve, such as the buttocks, knee area and calf.
One of the most common causes of sciatic leg pain is the Nerve Impingement
Syndrome. It can be accompanied by the bulging or herniation of the
soft pulpy discs which separate each spinal bone. This can irritate
or put pressure on the sciatic nerve roots as they leave the spinal
cord. The result can be an intense pain shooting down either or both
legs.
In the past, treatment has involved pain medications, muscle relaxers,
physical therapy, and even surgery. The chiropractic approach is
to use carefully directed and controlled pressure to remove the interference
from spinal structures. These chiropractic adjustments can be quite
effective in reducing nerve irritation and its associated pain. Sciatic,
like other health problems that can be traced to the spine, often
respond dramatically to the restoration of normal spinal function
through conservative chiropractic care.
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