Sciatica appears in an estimated 40% of the adult population in the United States. Although it sometimes goes away, many people are forced to live with sciatica as their new normal. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for sciatica. Get Wellness, serving the residents of Arlington, Mansfield, and Grand Prairie, TX, looks at how you can get sciatica relief.
Getting the Right Diagnosis
Relief starts with getting the right diagnosis. Don’t assume that since your symptoms sound like sciatica symptoms, you have sciatica. You need to get checked out by a chiropractor to be sure you don’t have any condition that has similar symptoms to sciatica, like neuropathy, piriformis syndrome, or sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Applying Heat
Reaching for a heating pad is the first thing you should do when feeling sciatic nerve pain. Heat decreases muscle tension, increases circulation, and can also increase your range of motion. The pad needs to be placed on your lower pelvis. Ask your chiropractor to show you exactly where. Do not place a heating pad directly onto your skin, or it will burn. Keep the pad on for about 20 minutes several times a day.
Physical Therapy
A chiropractor can help you find the right exercises to stretch your back and take pressure off your sciatic nerve. Physical therapy works well with other forms of sciatica relief.
Chiropractic Adjustment
Sciatica is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. Spinal adjustments help take the pressure off the sciatic nerve. The Cleveland Clinic recommends chiropractic care for sciatica. Spinal adjustments help relieve knots of muscle fibers that can contribute to sciatica. Chiropractors never prescribe potentially addictive painkillers or other drugs.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation, also known as e-stim, is a proven way to provide sciatica relief. According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Musculoskeletal Disorders, electrical stimulation helped to reduce pain and other symptoms. Electrical stimulation works for many people, but should not be used on anyone prone to seizures. Most people can use electrical stimulation safely with other treatments.
Ultrasound Therapy
Some people with sciatica benefit from being treated with ultrasound, or concentrated sound waves. A chiropractor will evaluate you to see if you are a good candidate for ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound has been shown to help reduce pain and make stiff backs more limber. It produces few side effects and is drug-free.
Chiropractic Care in Arlington, Mansfield, and Grand Prarie, TX
If you have further questions about treatments for sciatica and live in the Grand Prairie, Arlington, or Mansfield, TX areas, contact Get Wellness at (817) 472-7700 to make an appointment today.
