At the Dronyk Health Clinic, we regularly treat sciatica, also known as radiating pain, neuralgia or neuropathy. It’s a form of pain that can originate from the lower back or buttock, which then travels down the leg(s). This discomfort will vary in both intensity and frequency, from minimal pain to constant pain. It is often described as a sharp pain, often compared to an electric shock. Other symptoms of sciatica can include numbness, burning or a tingling sensation.
The Cause
Sciatica is usually caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, which can result from varying injuries. These include lumbar spine subluxation, which is a misalignment of the vertebral body in the low back, pregnancy and childbirth, bulging or herniated discs, tumours, constipation, diabetes or a tight pirifomis muscle in the buttock. More severe sciatica can result in sensory loss, paralysis in one or more muscle groups as well as insomnia.
Proper Diagnosis
In order to accurately determine whether or not sciatica is the cause of your discomfort, we will need to determine the cause of the pain itself. This means a deep walkthrough of your medical history, physical and neurological exams, and potentially diagnostic testing like an x-ray or MRI. Put together, these tests will help us determine whether or not your pain is sciatic in nature.
Treatments for Sciatica
A treatment protocol is designed to help your body heal itself based on the concept that restricted spinal movements inevitably lead to a lack of function and performance as well as pain. At the Dronyk Health Clinic we focus on non-invasive and drug-free treatments for patients. The method will be customized based on the cause of your sciatica. The four options commonly used include ice therapy, acupuncture, TENS, and spinal adjustments.
Ice Therapy
Placing ice on the source of your pain will work to reduce any and all inflammation while helping to ease discomfort. We recommend placing ice on the affected areas in intervals of 10. For example, place ice on for 10 minutes, then no ice for 10 minutes, and repeat as needed.
Acupuncture
This is often our first treatment for someone who has sciatic pain, as it is a very effective treatment. It is a great way to decrease pain and loosen up muscles that may be contributing to the sciatic pain, decrease inflammation and increase circulation to the areas affected.
TENS
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a portable muscle stimulation machine that emits varying electrical currents through the pain source. The different intensities aid in acute pain control while reducing muscle spasms.
Spinal Adjustment/Manipulation
At the Dronyk Health Clinic spinal adjustment treatments work well to ease sciatic pain. Freeing the spine of restricted movements helps to realign vertebral bodies back into their proper positioning. Spinal manipulation aids in reducing the nerve irritability that causes inflammation, pain and other symptoms of sciatica. This is a safe and highly effective treatment option for sciatica when performed by a reliable doctor.
At the Dronyk Health Clinic, we take our patient’s health and well-being very seriously. Located in Kitchener, Ontario, we provide chiropractic services that focus on delivering pain relief while your body heals itself. Our services include acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic medicine and more. Call us or visit our website for more information on how you can book an appointment today!
