Many of us will experience minor backaches at some point if we accidentally strain a muscle or sleep awkwardly. Sciatica, however, causes other symptoms as well, and it can plague you over and over again for weeks at a time unless you treat the underlying cause. Fortunately, here at Insight Chiropractic we know how to pinpoint that underlying cause and perform natural, non-invasive treatments to relieve pain and promote wellness.

The body has two sciatic nerves, one running through each buttock and down each leg. These major nerves, which begin at the base of the spine, are responsible for much of the sensation and functionality in the lower part of your body. When the sciatic nerve is pinched by some other structure, it loses some of its ability to conduct nerve messages correctly. As a result, you may experience back pain and sharp pains in the hips or legs. You also may feel irritating tingling sensations or numbness in your feet. 

Pressure on the sciatic nerve may have a variety of origins. A sports injury or car accident injury, for example, can force a compression or subluxation of the vertebrae, causing discs to slip out of place and push against the nerve. Bodily changes from pregnancy can also create abnormal nerve pressure. Osteoarthritis, stenosis or bone spurs can also cause impingement of the sciatic nerve. In many causes, however, a simple spinal misalignment or congenital curvature issue has thrown your body weight off-center, causing nerve pressure.

Even if your sciatica symptoms recede, they may return as long as the structural problem that created them still exists. Our chiropractor, Dr. Forster, can check your posture and spinal alignment, prescribing adjustments, massage therapy or wellness programs to control your sciatica at the source. Contact us -- we can help!