Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve becomes irritated and causes pain, numbness, or tingling in the lower back, buttocks, and down the back of the leg. It usually affects one side, and the location of the pain can depend on where the sciatic nerve is being irritated. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. The nerve has branches that come out from the spinal cord in the lower back area and travel around and through the hips on their way down the back of the leg, all the way to the foot.
A large majority of sciatica cases are caused by a herniated disc in the lower lumbar area of the spine. When the disc bulges from its normal location, it can irritate the sciatic nerve that is in very close proximity. Other conditions that may lead to sciatica include the following:
In addition to pain that radiates in the lower back, buttocks, and back of the leg, a person with sciatica can experience numbness, weakness, or a tingling sensation. Depending on the cause, sciatica can be an ongoing issue that flares up regularly, prompting patients to seek Farmington, MI sciatica relief, or it can be something that resolves on its own within a few days or weeks.
An at-home test you can do to figure out if you have sciatica is called the straight-leg-raising test. Lie on your back and raise the leg that has been giving you pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. If you raise your leg and you feel shooting pain below the knee, there’s a good chance you are suffering from sciatica. Visiting a family physician can confirm this. Your physician may check your muscle strength and reflexes and may ask you to perform other simple tests like walking on your heels. Expensive tests using medical imaging machines are not needed unless there are unusual symptoms present in addition to the classic sciatica symptoms.
Many people have successfully cared for their sciatica at home. Here are a few things you can try to give yourself some relief:
Sciatica is not always avoidable, but reducing risk factors and doing the following suggestions can help you steer clear of sciatica in some cases.
Even though the sciatic nerve is located in the lower half of the body, it is possible that the root cause of your sciatica is actually coming from your neck. The upper neck vertebrae can easily misalign. When they are just the slightest bit off kilter, the rest of the spine tries to compensate. The stress that your lower spine is putting on the sciatic nerve could actually be coming from the upper spine. In this case, the best solution is to visit an upper cervical chiropractor.
At Premier Family Wellness and Spinal Care in Farmington, Michigan, we have the specialized training and equipment to assess your spinal condition and see if your upper vertebrae are misaligned. Correcting any misalignment at the top of your spine will enable the rest of your spine to heal from the ways that it was compensating. Many patients have found sciatica relief in Farmington, MI after receiving our care.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins, call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Dr. Perkins grew up in Novi, Michigan and attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. He received his Doctorate Magna Cum Laude with a focus on Upper Cervical Chiropractic care. Chris is well known in the community for his public speaking and holds a number of professional certifications. We are proud to say that Dr. Perkins and Perkins Family Wellness has been recognized by Hour Magazine as one of the Top Chiropractors in Metro Detroit for 3 years in row.