Sciatica
The two sciatic nerves are the largest and longest nerves of the body. They are formed by the branching off of four or five nerves on each side of the spinal cord in the lower spine and running down the back of each leg. Each nerve is about the size of your thumb!
The lumbar spine, where the sciatic nerve begins, is the most frequently injured area of the spine. It is no surprise; therefore, that Sciatica is an all too common health problem. Pain is produced as a result of irritation, scraping, twisting, stretching, or pinching of these nerves as they exit the spine.
The cause can be physical, chemical, or emotional stress of everyday activities. One of the most common causes is Vertebral Subluxation Complex, where one of the segments of the spine is misaligned.
The Chiropractic approach is to carefully apply and control pressure to remove interference from spinal structures. A full-blown flare-up is characterized by low back pain, burning, cramping or numbness radiating into the thighs, legs, ankles feet and toes. There also may be pain in other areas along the sciatic pathway, such as buttocks, knees and calves. When the cause of the problem can be traced to the spine, Chiropractic care can be extremely effective in reducing pain and restoring normal spinal function.
Some Common Conditions Treated with Chiropractic Care