Sciatica

We offer unique, diagnosis and help for sciatica.

What is Sciatica? It’s a pain, numbness of tingles that travels down the leg. Most often it is diagnosed as a nerve compression in the low back or buttocks. We have found through advanced training and experience that 95% of our sciatica patients find fast and lasting relief and that the true cause is not what they thought or were previously told.

Herniated lumbar disc. This occurs from injury to the low back or stress to a weakened degenerated disc. The disc tears and the jelly filling can bulge the outside of the disc or squirt out through the tear putting pressure on the nerves to the legs. This can cause the sciatic pain, numbness or weakness. Usually, the pain is worse upon sitting or coughing with disc conditions. Depending on the size, location and duration, this can often be helped with non-surgical care, especially with the more advanced techniques we have available.

Piriformis syndrome. This is a common cause of sciatica. The sciatic nerves emerge from openings in the lower pelvis and either pass under, or in some people, through the piriformis muscle in the buttocks. If you get leg pain raising a straight leg and it worsens by pulling your toes up toward your head, you probably have this. The pain typically occurs after driving, running or standing for longer periods. We find there is always an underlying muscle imbalance and lumbar nerves that must be reset, however treatment is very straight forward.

Degenerative disc disease. This process is very common in the lower back, but it is not normal. It occurs as the result of micro trauma and direct trauma that was never addressed. Similar to a cavity that was never filled, the process slowly proceeds. It typically is not painful until late states when the joints have collapsed so much that the nerve has too small of an opening. The first signs are episodes of back pain, then episodes of back and buttocks and then leg pain. The earlier this is detected and stopped, the better the long term outcome.

Spinal stenosis. Typically, this occurs from years of abnormal mechanical pressures in the low back. The soft tissues and bone can degenerate and enlarge causing pressure on all the nerves passing through that level of the spine. Hence, sciatica symptoms appear usually starting in the buttocks and often occurring in both legs. In the last four years we have learned exciting new protocols which can reduce the soft tissue enlargement and swelling providing excellent results to patients who otherwise would have required surgery.

Spondylolisthesis. Occuring often after a fall, the back of the vertebra can fracture allowing the front (body) to slide forward. It often stabilizes on its own, however, it causes a narrowing and stenosis. Fortunately for most people, spondy’s can be easily managed with laser, exercise and specific resetting of the joint complex.

Trigger points, reflex referred pain and other causes. Joint dysfunctions of the lumbar spine, sacroiliac and pubic joints can also refer pain like sciatica through a reflex. It’s called sclerotome pain, but the nerve is not truly compressed. Trigger points are over contracted points in muscles. Similar to a heart attack causing arm pain, trigger points can refer pain to distant sites. We have also seen sciatic pain eliminated by addressing emotional stress, food sensitivities, B or D vitamin deficiencies, and other causes. That’s why testing the six interferences is so important to finding and treating the true cause of sciatica
 

Don’t wait for your condition to worsen or be satisfied with trying the same thing and expecting different results. Call our office now for an evaluation.