The sciatic nerve is the largest bundle of nerves in the human body. When pinched or inflamed, you experience tingling, pain, numbness, and burning in your buttocks and legs. At Active Health Center in Oakland, California, Andrew Curcuru, DC, treats the underlying cause of your sciatica to help you find relief. Call today for an appointment or use the online tool to schedule.
Sciatica describes pain that usually starts in your low back or buttocks and radiates down the back of your legs. It can even extend into your feet and toes. The pain may be sharp, achy, nagging, tingly, burning, or numbing.
This pain results when the sciatic nerve, which is located in the lower back and runs down the back of each of your legs, is pinched or compressed.
Sciatica isn’t a diagnosis in itself; it’s a symptom of a larger issue. Causes of sciatica include:
Usually, you feel sciatica only on one side of your body.
The symptoms associated with sciatica include:
These symptoms can interfere with daily activity and, in severe cases, even make it hard to walk. Chiropractic care at Active Health Center offers relief.
Dr. Curcuru does a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of sciatic pain. Once he’s determined the source of your sciatic nerve compression, he uses chiropractic adjustments and manipulations to ease your pain. The adjustments can reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve so the tingling and burning pain go away, and he restores function.
You may also benefit from adjunct therapies like massage, acupuncture, and therapeutic exercises to relieve muscle tightness and enhance circulation. Depending on the severity of your sciatica and how it responds to initial treatment, you may also benefit from injections to reduce inflammation and Iovera® cold therapy to block nerve pain signals.
Noninvasive spinal decompression can also help take pressure off of discs and thus your sciatic nerve, providing you with pain relief.
How long it takes you to heal depends on the cause of your sciatica and the severity of your condition. You may require several visits to find relief. Rest assured, though, that once the compression of the sciatic nerve is alleviated, your body heals naturally.
If you’re suffering sciatic pain, contact Active Health Center for treatment. Make your appointment by phone or use the online tool to schedule.