spinal stenosis
So you have sciatica! The pain is unbearable! You are contemplating whether a chiropractor might alleviate the pain or not. The easiest way to find out is to get a treatment from a chiropractor and see if that might help, right? WRONG! That might be the worst decision you ever made!!
And here is WHY.
In order for a sciatica treatment to be effective you need to know what caused the sciatica in the first place. Sciatica Pain also referred to as Sciatica have different causes.
1. Bulging or Herniated Disc
This occurs when the soft tissue (invertebral disc) between the bones (vertebrae) of the spinal column gets damaged and starts to protrude to one side. This soft tissue prevents the vertebral discs from grinding on each other. The protrusion can put pressure on the sciatic nerve causing pain. In this case the chiropractor can bring relieve with low force techniques. The invertabral disc can also tear and the fluid inside this disc can leak. The fluid that leaked can irritate the sciatica nerve causing lots of unwanted pain. It is clear that in this scenario no chiropractic treatment will help.
2. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
When the channels within which the sciatic nerve is situated narrows it is called Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Narrowing can occur due to various reasons. One cause of narrowing can be Osteoporosis. Chiropractic treatment in this case might do more damage than good. In most other Lumbar Spinal Stenosis cases it will be quite safe to use chiropractic treatment to relieve the pain.
3. Spondylolisthesis
This condition occurs when the vertebrae (bones in the spine) slip out of alignment. This slip can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve. If this slip is caused due to bone degeneration (arthritis) or a bone fracture, then it is not advisable to go for chiropractic treatment. In most other instances chiropractic treatment might have a positive influence on your sciatica pain.
4. Trauma
When the sciatic nerve is damaged or compressed due to an accident or sport injury trauma would be the diagnosis. A car accident for instance might cause damage to the sciatica nerve itself. Another scenario may be where a bone fracture may protrude and put pressure on the sciatic nerve. In some instances in this situation chiropractic treatment can help.
5. Piriformis syndrome
The priformis muscle is responsible for upper leg movement. It is situated in the buttock area. The sciatic nerve passes next to this muscle and down the leg. In some people the sciatic nerve passes through the piriformis muscle. When the piriformis muscle is injured or swollen for any reason it puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing the normal symptoms associated with sciatica. Patients normally react very positive on chiropractic treatment.
Choosing a Chiropractor
A last very important aspect to consider is how to choose the right chiropractor for treatment. I would advise following these guidelines when considering which chiropractor to use:
1. Ask questions. You need to know how the chiropractor is going to diagnose your condition. What treatment does he propose? How long will it take to see results from the treatment he is proposing?
2. Listen to his answers. Does he know what he is talking about? Does he ask you questions about your condition or does he jump straight into treatment? If he doesn't identify the problem properly, how can he give you the right treatment for your unique problem? Is he asking for a more visible diagnosis like a MRI scan or even X-Rays?
3. Do some enquiries of your own. Read. Talk to people the chiropractor that you intend seeing has previously treated. Are they satisfied with their treatment? Use the internet for information. Remember knowledge is power. The more you know about your condition, the better you will know where to go for help.
4. Make sure to diagnose the sciatica before going to the chiropractor. See a General Practitioner. Let him diagnose the problem. Ask for X-rays or better yet a MRI scan. A chiropractor will be able to make a more informed diagnosis with all the visible information available and his treatment should be much more effective.
5. Credentials are very important. Most Chiropractors will frame their certificates, diplomas and degrees and put it on their office walls for public display. Read these and make sure the person is duly qualified to practice Chiropractic.
6. Lastly TRUST YOUR INNER VOICE. If you do not feel completely at ease with the chiropractor or with what he says, find another that make you feel at ease with.
To recap make sure you get the right diagnosis for your problem. Ask questions. Find out as much as you can about your condition. Be informed!!!
When you follow these guidelines you can be sure that the right chiropractor can make a huge positive difference to help cure your of sciatica.
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