Sciatica

If you have sciatica, you know how painful it can be. It can hamper your everyday activities and leave you in pain every day. If you have sciatica, or you suspect that you do, you need to seek treatment. At Atlas Chiropractic in Sheridan, WY, our chiropractor provides natural treatment methods for sciatica to help you return to a pain-free life.

What Is Sciatica?

This condition occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed. This nerve runs from the lower back, through the buttocks and hips and into each leg. However, most people who have sciatic nerve pain only experience it on one side. The pain often runs from the lower back and into one leg. 

Causes of Sciatica

There are a number of possible causes for sciatica. It can be caused by a bone spur, a herniated disk, or the spine narrowing. When you have any of these, it can cause irritation and pain in the sciatic nerve. Pregnancy can also cause or exacerbate this condition. Damage from diabetes can cause it, as can a tumor that puts pressure on the nerve. 

Symptoms of Sciatica

When you have sciatic nerve pain, you will feel it radiate from your lower back and through to your thigh and calf. This pain may be dull or sharp, or it may feel like burning. It can be anywhere from mild to debilitating, where it hurts to move. Some say that their sciatic nerve pain feels like electric shocks. Sitting for a long period can aggravate sciatica, as can sneezing and coughing. It can also cause muscle weakness, tingling, or numbness in one leg or foot. 

Sciatica Risk Factors

Since there are so many causes of sciatica, it's possible for a wide range of people to get this type of pain. However, there are risk factors that make it more likely that you will get it. As you get older, you have a higher risk of having this condition. Aging causes changes to the spine, and these can include bone spurs and herniated disks that put pressure on the nerve. If you are obese, you also have a higher chance of getting it. 

If you have a job that causes you to sit for long periods of time or to carry heavy items and twist your back, you have elevated risk.

Visit Our Chiropractor in Sheridan, WY for Sciatica Relief

If you are suffering from sciatica, chiropractic care can help. At Atlas Chiropractic, our chiropractor will alleviate your pain and help you heal. Call us today to schedule an appointment.