Finding Help For My Back Problems

The radiating pain caused by sciatica can be nearly debilitating in some cases. The pain often radiates from your lower back to your legs, and is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. It can be a constant condition, or one that only flares up periodically. Luckily, you may be able to manage the pain and discomfort of sciatica through routine treatment with a chiropractor. Sometimes, the most effective treatment is a combination of several options. Here are a few of the non-invasive treatment choices that can help ease the pain from sciatica.

Ice Therapy

Applying cold packs or ice to the lower back area for brief periods, such as fifteen to twenty minutes, can help ease the inflammation that pinches the nerve. You may even find that spending time in a cool water spa tub can help. If you have pain that's widespread throughout your lower extremities, this treatment is often beneficial. Many chiropractors offer cool water baths for this purpose.

Ultrasound Treatments

Ultrasound treatments are often used to help improve circulation in the lower legs and back. The improved circulation helps to reduce cramping, swelling, stiffness and pain associated with nerve compression. The sound waves generated by ultrasound treatment create subtle heat that can actually penetrate muscle tissue in the area to provide relief.

Nerve Stimulation Therapy

TENS therapy, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, uses an electrical current to stimulate the nerves of a problematic area. These systems can vary the intensity and pattern of the current. You even have the freedom to adjust the pattern as needed to concentrate the stimulation where you need it most.

Although the TENS system that your chiropractor uses is probably quite large, there are even portable systems that you can use at home. Your chiropractor may prescribe one for you to use on the days when your sciatica is causing more pain.

Manual Spine Manipulation

Spinal adjustment can sometimes ease the pain of sciatica. If your pain is being caused by pressure on the nerve due to spinal misalignment, an adjustment from your chiropractor may help ease the discomfort. Chiropractic adjustment can help restore some movement in your spine, shifting the pressure away from your sciatic nerve.

As you can see, there are many different options to treat sciatica. Working with a knowledgeable chiropractor, like Healing Hands Family Chiropractic & Massage Centre, is a great place to start, because he or she can help you create a customized treatment plan. Since your symptoms can vary in intensity from day to day, it's important that you have a variety of treatment choices available to you.