When to Go to a Chiropractor for Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica is a painful, distracting and often frustrating condition. As experienced Cambridge, Ontario, chiropractors, we have helped many, many clients with sciatica over the years. One of the most common questions we get on the topic is “When should I go to a chiropractor for sciatica treatment, and when should I wait?”

What Is Sciatica, Really?

Before we go further, let’s pause and explain what sciatica is. Sciatica is a condition involving the pinching of the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs all the way from the lower back down the entirety of each leg. When the nerve is compressed or pinched, you can experience pain, numbness or weakness anywhere along the length of the nerve. These symptoms are what comprise the condition of sciatica, which can affect either leg, but typically only affects one leg or the other at a given time.

What Causes Sciatica?

If you’re a client of our clinic (or reader of our website) you know that many times, pain is the result of disruptions to the central nervous system. Sciatica is a great example of this. Bone spurs and herniated disks are common examples of the more extreme disruptions of the sciatic nerve. But subtler compressions, shifting, and wear on the body over time can also have an impact. 

How Common Is Sciatica?

Unfortunately, it’s fairly common. According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, sciatica affects as many as 40% of adults. For some people, the most obvious symptoms go away on their own with time. Many are not so lucky, and go in search of professional care for their pain.

Can Chiropractic Help Sciatica?

In our experience, chiropractic treatment often reduces or eliminates symptoms of sciatica. What’s more, consistent chiropractic care can also prevent its recurrence. In fact, sciatica is a great example of exactly how chiropractic works. The science of chiropractic is founded on restoring alignment to the spine, which shifts over time due to small stressors and large traumas alike. Restoring spinal alignment allows the body to restore effective communication between the brain and the rest of the body — communication that, when blocked, manifests as pain and discomfort. Which is exactly what’s going on with sciatica.

When To See A Chiropractor for Sciatica Treatment

Every body is different, but the general rule of thumb is that when adjustments you can make on your own aren’t helping, it’s time to seek out experienced care. At-home supports include comforting the symptoms of sciatica through applying heat or cold, but more important are lifestyle modifications that can reduce the pain and pressure you’re putting on your spine. Think things like yoga, stretching, avoiding long periods of sitting, and complementary therapies like massage or acupuncture. 

These are great places to start, but for many people they’re not enough (or they help for a time but the sciatica recurs). If this is happening to you, we urge you to seek chiropractic care once it is clear that lifestyle factors aren’t yielding the results you need to feel comfortable in your body.

When it’s time to visit a chiropractor for sciatica, contact Mitchell Chiropractic. We’ve been treating sciatica patients at our Cambridge clinic for over 30 years and would be honoured to help you and your body return back to wholeness, comfort and ease through sciatica treatment.