Sciatica is a condition that affects the spinal nerve roots in the lower back. When these nerves become inflamed or damaged, they can create pain and weakness in the back that travels to the buttocks, down the leg, and to your foot.
When the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain and weakness experienced are called “sciatica.” For many, living with sciatica pain can feel like navigating a relentless storm, making even simple tasks daunting.
At East Shore Healthcare, we recognize the challenges that sciatica adds to your life. With our dedicated team and advanced treatments, we’re committed to offering more than just temporary relief. Instead, we provide comprehensive conservative treatments tailored to your unique pain management needs, ensuring you can reclaim your life from this nerve condition.
Is Sciatica slowing you down? Call (717) 652-5550 to learn about our natural pain relief options
Sciatic pain symptoms
Some of the common sciatica symptoms include:
- Chronic pain in the lower back that radiates and travels down to your buttock and the back of one thigh
- Severe pain extending from the buttock to the foot
- Numbness or loss of sensation
- Weakness when bending your knee
Note: Symptoms of sciatica might resemble other medical problems or conditions. So, it’s best to seek help from a medical expert for a definitive diagnosis.
What causes sciatica?
Sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve is pinched. Common causes of a pinched sciatic nerve include bone spurs, a herniated disc in your spine, and spinal stenosis. In rare cases, a developing tumor may press down on the nerve.
Some of the risk factors for developing sciatica include:
- Age – As you grow older, you’re at a higher risk of developing bone spurs and herniated disks.
- Obesity – Excess weight increases pressure on your spine.
- Occupation – Jobs that have you twisting your back, driving a car for long distances, and lifting heavy loads play a huge role in developing sciatic pain.
- Prolonged sitting – Individuals who have minimal physical activity and sit a lot are more prone to developing sciatica than active individuals.
- Diabetes – It’s a condition that affects how the body handles blood sugar and that increases the chances of nerve damage.
- Pregnancy – During pregnancy, the body undergoes hormonal changes that relax the ligaments in preparation for birth. This relaxation may lead to pelvis misalignment, which contributes to sciatic pain.
Sciatica treatments
You can relieve sciatic nerve pain by placing a cold pack wrapped in a towel on the painful spot for twenty minutes, several times a day. For added relief, alternate between a heating pad and ice packs.
Keep in mind that these self-care treatments for sciatica only provide temporary relief and don’t address the underlying cause. Also, too much bed rest might make your sciatica worse.
For permanent relief, you need professional help from Eastshore Healthcare. We implement different treatment strategies based on your symptoms.
For instance, adjustments and electrotherapy can bring you back into alignment and help inflamed areas heal more quickly. Using ultrasound-guided needle injections can also cure sore tissues and nerves.
If you have sciatica, you often experience a gradual onset of numbness, prickling, or tingling in your feet or hands, called peripheral neuropathy. The mainstay of our peripheral neuropathy treatment program centers around infrared and near-infrared light therapy and a special type of painless electrical stimulation.
These therapies effectively penetrate the skin to stimulate the healing of the damaged nerves and to restore normal nerve function while assisting in new capillary formation and nerve growth.
Is sciatica similar to back pain?
Lower back pain and sciatica are similar in their classification as back pain. Before diagnosis, it’s easy to confuse between the two since their symptoms overlap.
That said, the main difference is that sciatica is a nerve pain that spreads to the leg, while back pain concentrates on the waist or beltline. Also, back pain resolves naturally in six weeks, while sciatica needs treatment.
Consult with Eastshore Healthcare
Sciatica pain, with its distinct and often debilitating symptoms, can significantly impact one’s quality of life. However, understanding the condition and seeking the right interventions can pave the way for a life less burdened by this nerve-related discomfort. No one should have to navigate the challenges of sciatica alone.
At Eastshore Healthcare, we’re more than just a medical facility; we’re your partners in health. Our team is equipped with the expertise, tools, and technology to address sciatica pain at its root.
For non-surgical treatment options for sciatica in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading, or nearby areas, please contact us at (717) 652-5550 to schedule a complimentary consultation for you or your loved one. We can help you alleviate your pain through our proven pain management techniques.