If you suffer from the often excruciating, radiating pain of sciatica, it’s time to consider comprehensive care at the practice of Edward C. Murphy, MD, PA. At the office in Houston, you receive exceptional and comprehensive chiropractic care from Bogar Ventura, DC, who has helped many patients achieve long-term relief from sciatica. To schedule an appointment, call the office conveniently located in the Texas Medical Center, or use the online booking feature.
Sciatica refers to a group of symptoms that occur when your sciatic nerve is pinched. The sciatic nerve leaves your spinal cord near the base of your spine, travels through each buttock, and goes down each leg. On its way through your legs, the nerve branches several times to serve different areas.
Your sciatic nerve typically gets compressed by one of these conditions:
About 90% of all cases of sciatica are caused by a herniated disc.
Sciatica primarily causes excruciating pain that starts in your lower back and shoots down your leg. You may feel an electric-shock type of pain, or it could feel more like a burning sensation.
When you have a pinched nerve, you can also develop symptoms such as tingling and numbness along the nerve. In severe cases, damage to the sciatic nerve may cause muscle weakness.
Treatment for sciatica typically begins with conservative chiropractic therapies that remove pressure on the sciatic nerve, relieve your pain, and support your body’s natural healing ability. When your pain persists despite manual therapies, the next step is medical treatment.
Chiropractic treatment may include:
These techniques realign your spine, taking the pressure off the nerve, and improving mobility.
Decompression gently stretches your spine, restoring space between vertebrae, promoting healing circulation, and releasing the nerve.
Trigger point therapy is one example of a manual therapy that may relieve the pain by relaxing muscle spasms and boosting circulation.
TENS uses a small, battery-operated device to send a mild electric current to your lower back, relieving pain and reducing muscle spasms.
Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to create heat that penetrates soft tissues. The heat boosts circulation, reduces swelling, and helps relieve pain.
Poor posture, and especially sitting for a long time with poor posture, puts extra pressure on your lower spine. Improving your posture and ergonomics can help relieve sciatic nerve compression.
Structured exercises improve sciatica by strengthening the muscles supporting your spine and reducing pressure on the nerve.
To get relief for sciatica, call the practice, Edward C. Murphy, MD, or schedule an appointment online.
