Have persistent lower back or leg pain on one side of the body? Is it accompanied by tingling, aching or burning? What about pins and needles in your legs or feet? Did your pain develop slowly and gradually progress? Is the pain made worse by long sessions of sitting, bending, sneezing or another sudden movement? You may be suffering from sciatic leg pain.
What is Sciatic Leg Pain?
The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body. It emerges from the spine in the lower back and runs down through the buttocks and into the lower leg, where it works to control muscles. It is capable of producing sensations to the entire lower body.
When this nerve becomes irritated or inflamed, the pain it causes is referred to as sciatica, which can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, including those listed above. Individuals most likely to be affected by sciatic pain include individuals between the ages of 30 and 50; it’s generally caused by wear and tear, not an injury.
Diagnosing and Treating Sciatica
An experienced chiropractor will listen to your symptoms and medical history while asking questions about what movements manifest the symptoms; at this point, they may have an idea of whether or not what you’re experiencing could be related to the sciatic nerve.
From there, they will perform an examination to assess sensory strength and reaction to certain activities while monitoring reflexes, muscle strength and other variables. Based on an in-depth assessment, your chiropractor will be able to rule out other possible issues while providing a plan of action for moving forward.
In many cases, conservative chiropractic treatments can be highly effective in treating sciatic pain. If you’re ready to improve your lifestyle while eliminating pain, it’s time to make a call. Contact LeVan Chiropractic today to discuss options and to set up a consultation. Your life doesn’t need to be limited by pain; make a change today.