Do I Have to Live with Sciatica Pain Forever?

Sciatica is pain from the sciatic nerve, which runs from the back down each leg. Pressure on this nerve causes radiating pain that can make it difficult to walk, sit, or even lie down comfortably. 

Whether you’re experiencing sciatica pain for the first or 50th time, consulting with a specialist can help you diagnose the root cause and find solutions. 

Here at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine in Meridian, Idaho, our team of experts can accurately diagnose your sciatica and create a customized treatment plan to help you find relief from pain. 

Understanding sciatica 

The sciatic nerve is the largest, longest nerve in the human body, stretching from your lumbar spine down into your feet on either side. It’s a thick, bulky nerve that supplies your legs and feet with most of their sensory and motor control. 

Usually, the sciatic nerve is well-protected from injury. It runs deep within your legs and buttocks, and you can’t feel it under the skin. 

However, it can become compressed or inflamed, leading to sciatica. Sciatica symptoms include muscle weakness in the legs, numbness, and tingling. Sciatica usually affects one side of the body. 

Nerve pain is a hallmark symptom of sciatica, but it’s important to discern between the types of pain while consulting with your doctor. Pain from the sciatic nerve can feel like: 

• Shocking, electric pain that shoots up your leg(s)
• A constant ache in your hips, buttocks, or legs 
• Pain that changes with your posture 
• Discomfort that comes and goes 

The pain can be located in your lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, and even your feet. 

Locating the source can be difficult since pain tends to radiate along the sciatic nerve to other parts of the body. This is known as referred pain and is one reason why sciatica is often missed or diagnosed as another issue.

Finding relief from sciatica 

Sciatica can be acute or chronic, coming and going or switching sides. Often, acute sciatica can be treated with limited rest, gentle stretches and exercise, and over-the-counter medications. 

However, if your pain is severe, persistent, or recurring, you have a chronic condition and need more intensive help.

At Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine, our experienced chiropractors and therapists can diagnose if you do indeed have sciatica and, if so, why. Common causes of sciatica and lower back pain include: 

• Pregnancy 
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease 
• Spondylolisthesis 

After diagnosis, the team builds a treatment plan that fulfills your needs. We offer the following therapies, all of which can relieve or alleviate pain caused by sciatica: 

• Biofeedback therapy 
• Massage therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Acupuncture 
• Laser therapy
• Spinal decompression 

Tired of living life with sciatica? Start discussing solutions by scheduling a consultation with our team of specialists. To get in touch, call 208-213-7963 or request an appointment online.