As many as 40% of people experience sciatica at some point in their lives, and the likelihood increases with age.
A person experiencing sciatica feels pain radiating along the path of the sciatic nerve from the lower back, deep into the buttock, and down the leg.
The pain is described as burning or shooting pain, sometimes experienced along with numbness, and usually (though not always) localized to one side of the body. It can range from mild to debilitating and can prevent people from normal daily activities.
It’s also merely a symptom of an underlying problem.
Essentially, the nerve is being irritated or compressed somewhere along the line. Common causes are:
If you begin to feel sciatic pain, it’s a good idea to go easy with your physical activity for a bit. Take a few days to give your body rest, do some stretching to see if it relieves your pain, and take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen to reduce inflammation. You can also try hot and cold packs on your lower back.
Atlas orthogonal is an extremely successful treatment for sciatica. When the spine is in alignment, the nerve is no longer pinched--and the pain disappears.
Spinal decompression is another approach that relieves the compression of nerves and lengthens the spine.
Chiropractic exercises are specific exercises that won’t aggravate the nerve but keep you active--which is important for the healing process.
Lifestyle changes can also lead to improvement; such as changes to posture for sitting, standing, sleeping, etc. to promote spinal health. They can also help to address existing issues (like obesity, diabetes, and smoking) that can predispose people to having sciatic pain in the first place.
Consider the case of thirty-year-old “Sabrina,” who came into Dr. David Nygaard’s office with constant and severe sciatic pain in her right leg (and starting in her left), preventing her from basic activities like walking down the stairs.
She had already seen three chiropractors over a span of three years, as often as three times per week, with no improvement. She decided to see Dr. David Nygaard, her fourth chiropractor, as a last resort before having surgery out of desperation.
After her very first Atlas adjustment, she felt she had more energy and simultaneously felt rested, calmer, and less anxious. She felt like she could finally relax.
After two months, her pain was gone. She felt like “a different person” compared to when she was in pain. “Ask my son, I was grumpy and grouchy. It’s hard when you’re in pain!”
Dr. David Nygaard treated her with Atlas orthogonal adjustments as well as spinal decompression. She’s back to a regular, active lifestyle, with a much better quality of life.
Check out her video testimonial here
If you’re struggling with sciatic pain, let’s see if we can’t get you similar results!
Contact us today to learn about Atlas Brain and Body and the many conditions we treat. 828-253-0700
Dr. David Nygaard, MS, MBA
Board Certified Atlas Orthogonist
Atlas Brain and Body
(828) 253-0700
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