Sciatica is a condition in which a patient may feel radiating pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the hips, buttocks, and down each leg. At Haywood Health and Wellness in Blue Springs, Missouri, Dr. John Haywood and our team provide effective, non-invasive care to help you find relief from sciatica symptoms and restore your body’s function. Using a range of advanced therapies, we help fix sciatica at its source and support your recovery.
What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica?
Symptoms of sciatica may be felt anywhere along the sciatica nerve’s length. Sciatica symptoms can vary in severity but often include a sharp, shooting pain that travels downward, a pins-and-needles sensation, difficulty moving or standing due to reduced strength in the affected leg, and a dull or aching pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or sudden movements.
These symptoms often interfere with daily activities and can significantly affect your quality of life.
Common Causes of Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated. You have one sciatic nerve on each side of your body, and usually only one of them is compressed at a time, so symptoms are only felt on that side.
Chiropractors like Dr. Haywood can effectively treat several common causes of sciatica, including:
- Herniated Discs: When the soft inner material of a spinal disc bulges out, it may compress a sciatic nerve root.
- Spinal Misalignments: Vertebral subluxations can cause nerve irritation and inflammation.
- Piriformis Syndrome: Tightness or spasms in the piriformis muscle, which runs from the lower spine to the femur, can irritate the sciatic nerve.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Age-related changes to the spine can lead to nerve compression.
Identifying and correcting the underlying problem is essential for lasting relief. We carefully diagnose patients to determine the cause of their pain, and can take digital X-rays in our Blue Springs office.
Sciatica Treatment Options
We offer a variety of non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatments that are safe for most patients, including:
- Lumbar Traction: Also known as decompression, this therapy gently stretches the lower spine to create space between vertebrae, relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve and improving disc alignment.
- Manual Joint Adjustments: Chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment to the spine, reducing nerve compression and enhancing overall function. We typically perform adjustments by hand but can use instrument assistance for patients who need a more delicate touch.
- Intersegmental Traction: This treatment uses a rolling table to mobilize the spine, improve circulation, and reduce stiffness in the lower back.
We also offer soft tissue therapies for muscles that have tensed up because of sciatica or a herniated disc.
- Hydromassage Lounge Bed: A soothing water-based massage therapy that relaxes muscles and promotes circulation without direct pressure.
- Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS): Electrical pulses can be applied to tight or spasming muscles, alleviating pain and reducing inflammation.
- Therapeutic Ultrasound: Deep-penetrating sound waves help reduce inflammation and accelerate soft tissue repair.
These therapies work together to alleviate sciatica symptoms, correct its cause, and prevent recurrence.
End Pain and Restore Your Mobility
Contact Haywood Health and Wellness in Blue Springs, Missouri, today to schedule an appointment and begin to find lasting relief from sciatica. Call (816) 228-6700 or request an appointment through our website.