Lower back pain may be common, especially when you sit in front of your desk all day. However, it’s a different story once your pain spreads down to your hips and legs.
Feeling numbness and tingling in your lower body is also a signal your body needs medical attention. When rest, pain killers, and relief patches no longer work, it may be time for you to call your local chiropractor.
Identifying Sciatica
The nerve running down from your lower back to your legs is what we call the sciatic nerve. This is the longest and thickest nerve in the body. When it becomes compressed or inflamed, you will develop a painful spine condition called sciatica. It presents in the following symptoms:
- severe back pain
- leg weakness
- numbness
- bowel or bladder changes
Sciatic pain often affects only one side of the body. The aching sensation begins in the lumbar area of the spine and may radiate to the buttocks and the legs. Sciatica symptoms range from a mild to a sharp ache, a burning or numbing sensation, or intense pain. Prolonged sitting and coughing or sneezing may also aggravate its symptoms.
Mild sciatica often disappears shortly. More severe cases, however, require medical treatment. Non-surgical methods may be employed to treat sciatic pain. But when symptoms become excruciating, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat your sciatica.
Taking A Trip to The Chiropractor
If lifestyle and home remedies are not enough to ease your pain, one of the best alternatives is to visit a chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO. Chiropractors are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. So, they are a great go-to when you have sciatic pain or sciatic-associated symptoms. Their focus is particularly on the spine, so they usually handle back pain conditions, including sciatica.
The wonderful thing about a chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO, is that you don’t need a referral to see them. Chiropractic care is also a part of many insurance plans. Thus, you can cut some costs while getting pain relief.
A chiropractor in Grand Junction, Co, can use different techniques to relieve pain, restore function, and catalyze recovery. Aside from pain mitigation and body rehabilitation, general benefits of chiropractic adjustment include:
- Increase in energy, focus, and sleep quality
- Decrease in pain, headaches, and stress
- Improved nervous system function and overall health
- Better posture
- Stronger immune system
Cracking Away Sciatic Pain
Chiropractic treatment does not require any special preparation before the procedure. What’s important is for you to remain calm and relaxed as the adjustment occurs.
During the chiropractic procedure, your chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO, will place you in specific positions to relax trigger points in the sciatic nerve. Then, they will apply a controlled force to a spinal joint or target area using their hands or an instrument.
The procedure usually does not cause any pain. Instead, chiropractic adjustment would sometimes result in loud popping noises. After your session, you may experience minor side effects that can persist for a few days. These include:
- fatigue
- headaches
- mild pains
The response to chiropractic adjustment may vary from person to person and on their overall condition. If chiropractic adjustment does not wield any positive results after a few weeks, your healthcare provider may suggest other options for treatment.
Aside from adjustment, your chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO, may also use ice or cold therapy to reduce inflammation. This type of therapy is also known to control sciatic pain. They can also utilize therapeutic ultrasound. Sound waves from the ultrasound device can generate heat that penetrates deep into tissues. The heat produced in ultrasound can also improve circulation and reduce the following symptoms:
- spasms
- swelling
- stiffness
- pain
Chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO
Sciatica can be an extremely painful experience. It can cause discomfort at the very least and render you unable to function at the very worst. If the aching in your back and legs continue to persist, it may be high time to take a trip to a chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO.
At WorkPartners Occupational Health, our licensed chiropractor Dr. Christopher Angello, D.C., delivers chiropractic care for a wide range of injuries and conditions. He uses various therapeutic modalities tailored to suaboutit the care you need. Dr. Angello is known for his work with countless injured workers in Grand Junction, so you are sure to be in capable hands.
If you wish to learn more about our chiropractic services, give us a call at (970) 241-5585. You may also request an appointment online to arrange a consultation with Dr. Angello. We look forward to helping you live a pain-free life!
