SPINAL DECOMPRESSION MISSOURI
LIKE US
  • Home
  • Blog
  • How Does it Work?
  • How Long Will it Take?
  • What's Included?
  • BBT
  • Research
    • MORE RESEARCH
  • FAQ
    • What About Spinal Surgery?
  • Contact

WHAT CAUSES SCIATICA?

6/19/2013

4 Comments

 
SCIATICA
THE COMMON CAUSES OF SCIATICA
Everything You Ever Wanted to know about Sciatica,
But were Afraid to Ask

Sciatica

SCIATIC NERVE

_

Do You Have Any of These Painful Symptoms of Sciatica?
  • Burning sensations that run from your butt into your leg?
  • Electrical shock-like sensations that shoot down your leg?
  • Gnawing, aching, cramping-like pain in your thigh or calf?
  • Pins and needles sensation (many people refer to this as numbness and / or tingling) in your butt, thigh, leg or feet?
All of these are indicative of SCIATICA.  But you need to understand that sciatica is just that ---- pain caused by irritation and INFLAMMATION of the sciatic nerve.  The sciatic nerve is both the longest and the largest nerve in the body (as big around as your finger in the buttock region).   It begins in the lower back, as the lower spinal nerves exit your spinal cord and join together to form one large nerve.  The sciatic nerve, supplies your lower body with sensation and muscle function, and is always a symptom of an underlying problem.


What Causes Sciatica?
Although the symptoms manifest essentially the same way and can look virtually identical to each other, there are numerous different causes of sciatica.  Some of these are Disc-related and some are not.  The list includes things like......
  • Injury or direct trauma to the sciatic nerve.
  • SUBLUXATION or misalignment of the spinal bones.
  • If pain starts in the buttocks, it could very well be PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME and not a Spinal Disc problem.  If your problem is Piriformis Syndrome, it will not respond favorably to Spinal Decompression Therapy.
  • SPINAL DEGENERATION
  • DISC BULGES / DISC HERNIATIONS
  • Degenerative Arthritis of the spine, causing SPINAL STENOSIS (narrowing of the "tube" that houses the spinal cord or the "window" from where the spinal nerves exit the spine).
  • Spinal Tumors

How Can I Tell What is Causing My Sciatica?
There are many different ways that doctors try to determine what is causing your back pain.  Bear in mind that most of these methods are not as effective as you might imagine.  As I have discussed previously (HERE), study after study after study has shown that doctors cannot determine the exact tissue that is causing the pain less than 25% of the the time (Gulp!).
  • Physical Examination: This involves your doctor pushing, pulling, and stretching your back and legs to determine exactly where the sciatic nerve irritation is coming from.
  • Neurological Examination: This helps doctors determine which disc is injured, and how severely injured it might be.
  • Spinal X-ray:  Although doctors cannot see a disc herniation with an X-ray,  it does allow them to see if any signs of disc space narrowing or Spinal Degeneration is present.
  • Electrical Diagnostic Tests (NCV):  This can show diminished speed of nerve transmission from your back to your leg.  I will warn you that this test is not only miserable to have done, in my opinion is it's not the best test out there.  Most of the time you have to be really really bad for for the test to show that you have a problem.  Many people who are suffering with a great deal of sciatic pain are surprised when this test comes back negative.
  • MRI of Low Back:  MRI's allow doctors to visualize the spinal discs to see if there are herniations blocking or pinching the sciatic nerve.  I typically do not require an MRI to begin Spinal Decompression Therapy.  HERE is one reason why.  The previous link is another.

Which Sciatica Treatments Are Best?
Sciatica treatment depends on what the underlying cause is.  If your problem is Piriformis Syndrome, we will always tackle it as a separate issue as it does not respond to Spinal Decompression Therapy.  If your problem involves one of the BIG FOUR, the most effective forms of sciatic nerve treatment include things like:
  • Exercises & Stretches
  • Stimulation of the pathways that neurologically control spinal postural muscles (HERE)
  • CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS
  • OXYGEN THERAPY
  • COLD LASER THERAPY
  • SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY

The truth is, your Sciatica is Likely Caused by One or More of the Common Causes.  Your prospects for getting better largely depend on the cause and severity of your underlying
underlying condition, how long it’s been there, as well as your general health and fitness level. The good news is that for the majority of those suffering with chronic sciatica, there is help available.  Call us today at (417) 934-6337 to set up your free consultation with Dr. Schierling.

4 Comments
Jack Ryan link
1/2/2018 08:46:12 am

Like most people with sciatica, I went straight to the doctor for my health issue. Right away the good doc prescribed some pain medications and told me to get in touch with a chiropractor for adjustments.

I was using a cocktail of analgesics, muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories…they gave me some minor temporary relief and lots of stomach cramps and diarrhea…great!

At the chiropractor, often the pains flared up right during the session, and more often than not, I’d walk out worse, not better.

I gave up all that and found a better approach that got rid of my sciatica permanently...

http://www.healthwise101.com/sciatica

Reply
Marc link
6/23/2020 06:42:02 pm

Very helpful and informative. Thank for sharing this post.

Reply
Neil link
6/23/2020 10:24:30 pm

Awesome post thanks for sharing a lot of good information

Reply
Yena link
7/10/2020 01:22:16 am

Interesting stuff to read. Keep it up.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    DR. SCHIERLING

    Dr. Russell Schierling
    Dr. Schierling has been practicing in Mountain View for over 20 years.  He decided on a career in chiropractic after doctors were unable to help him following a college weightlifting injury
    Spinal Decompression Chronic Pain


    BLOG ARCHIVES

    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    Spinal Decompression Chronic Pain


    BLOG CATEGORIES

    All
    Antalgic Posture
    Are You A Candidate?
    Artificial Discs
    Asymptomatic Disc Herniation
    Back Surgery And The Elderly
    Best Medications
    Cauda Equina Syndrome
    Choosing A Clinic
    Chronic Low Back Pain
    Degenerative Disc Disease
    Disc Degeneration
    Disc Herniation
    Disc Self Help
    Discs In 1947
    Djd
    Excuses
    Expectations
    Facet Syndrome
    Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
    Failed Spinal Surgery
    Focal Or Diffuse?
    Fraud Settlement
    Free Decompression!
    How Long?
    Ice Or Heat
    Inversion Tables
    Money Back Guarantee
    Mri Proves Decompression Works
    Patient Diary
    Piriformis Syndrome
    Playing With Fire
    Radiculopathy
    Sacroilliac Joint
    Sciatica
    Signs It's A Disc
    Spinal Decompression
    Spinal Stenosis
    Spinal Surgery
    Table Position
    Unnecessary Surgery
    VAX D & DRX 9000 -vs- KDT
    Which Disc?

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.