What Is Sciatica?
Hello, this is Dr. Greg Marin here at One Spine Chiropractic. Today, we’re going to be discussing a condition called sciatica.
Sciatica is a condition where we have radiating pain from the lower back and buttock area down the leg, all the way down to the calf. Sometimes you feel burning, radiating pain, numbness, or tingling. Those are all signs that the sciatica problem is not happy with you.
What we want to do is address the problem with chiropractic, specifically a chiropractic adjustment. What happens is, a lot of times, the bones get misaligned, and that puts pressure on the nerve. When you put pressure on the nerve, it causes some inflammation and radiating pain down the leg.
Evaluating the Lumbar Spine and Pelvis
There are a few areas of the spine that we look at for that. We are going to evaluate the five bones of the lumbar spine because we have nerve roots that actually come out and bundle up right behind the buttock and make up the sciatic nerve.
Another area of the spine where we’re looking for misalignments is the pelvis—your sacrum and your pelvic bone on each side—because that is your foundation. When your foundation gets rotated or out of place, that also might put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing the radiating pain down the leg.
Diversified Chiropractic Adjustment
Our first treatment option for sciatica is the chiropractic adjustment—a diversified, more hands-on adjustment.
What we’re going to do is palpate first of all with the chiropractic exam and figure out where the bone is stuck and misaligned. Depending on where that bone is stuck, that’s the area that’s putting pressure on the nerve.
What we want to do is adjust that, get pressure off the nerve, and let the nerve actually heal itself so we get relief from the symptoms we’re having.
We’re going to demonstrate that adjustment right now. Clarissa, I’m going to have you lie on your side facing this way. We’ll get her in a nice, comfortable position, and then we’re actually going to palpate the area that’s stuck right there.
We’re going to get that leg up a little higher. We’re going to go here, and then we’re going to have the patient just relax and lean her in toward me. Good.
That bone is back in place, there’s less pressure on the nerve, and the body is able to heal, feel better, and get the results it needs.
Let’s go ahead and do the other side. All right, so here’s a bone that is stuck. We’re going to have the patient relax and lean her in toward me. Good. Good popping. Everything is back in place. Let me help you up.
The Activator Method
A lot of patients who are inflamed and in a lot of pain don’t need the aggressive manual adjustment. They prefer something less invasive and with a lot less force.
What we use is an instrument called an Activator. This Activator helps me get that bone back in place really gently and specifically to get pressure off the nerve so we get relief from that sciatic pain.
The same thing we’re doing with our chiropractic exam is, first of all, palpating to find the area of the lower back that is stuck. When we find that area of the lower back that is stuck, we get the device right on there.
Device clicks.
Click. The bone gets back in place and takes pressure off the nerve root. The sciatic pain is going to get relief, and the muscle spasm surrounding that area gets relief as well.
If you’re not a big fan of the popping and the aggressive adjustment, this is a great option for us called the Activator Method, which we practice here at our office.
The Thompson Technique
Another option is the Thompson Technique. A lot of patients prefer a low-force adjustment. This helps us get the pressure off the nerve and get the bone specifically in the right position where I need it so the body can heal up and get rid of that sciatic nerve pain.
First of all, what we’re going to do is evaluate with the chiropractic exam and palpate which areas are stuck and causing some issues. Then I’m going to have the patient lift this leg up nice and straight. Good, back down. How about the left one? Back down.
“Which one’s heavier?”
“The left.”
Typically, the area that’s heavier is the one where the sacrum and the pelvis are stuck, also putting pressure on that sciatic nerve.
What we’re going to do is use this table to get that bone back in place. I’m going to have the patient cross her left leg over for me. We’re going to make our contact point where that bone is stuck. Come up.
Metal clacking.
One more. Good. Just put that leg straight, and we’re working the bone right above that, which is stuck as well.
Metal clacking.
All right, lift that leg up one more time. Great. The patient has better range of motion and less restriction, but more importantly, less pain going down that sciatic nerve.
Get Relief From Sciatic Pain
If you’re having any sciatic issues, call our office to get the relief you need. We’ll do a thorough evaluation and get you the treatment options you need. Thank you.
