There are thousands of patients asking how to get rid of sciatica. Unfortunately, the answer may not be simple. As with many other health conditions, what works for others may not work for you, and vice versa.
Perhaps the next best thing you should be asking right now is what's causing your sciatica and if there is something you can do to avoid this condition and manage and avoid the pain and discomfort altogether.
You probably have read about the usual causes of sciatica, such as:
But sciatica can also happen due to natural contributing factors and bad habits. Let us tell you more about it as we continue.
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Sciatica can happen due to the causes mentioned above, but you must also be aware that natural factors can contribute to your sciatica's development. Besides the unavoidable, your daily habits are also a significant contributing factor. If you become more familiar with these, you can have a better edge in knowing how to get rid of sciatica by seeking proper care.
Unfortunately for some people, some jobs require a lot of heavy lifting, which can put a lot of strain on their backs. But lifting is not only job-related. Adults and children can regularly carry heavy purses or bags to and from work or school. You might be one of those who bring heavy shoulder bags that you regularly carry. This can contribute to back pain, especially if accompanied by poor posture. Taking conscious efforts to ensure you only bring what's necessary and balancing how you carry your stuff can help keep your neck and spine from unnecessary pressure and strain.
Athletes or gym enthusiasts may also experience back pain due to lifting. Be sure you apply the proper form whenever you attempt lifting heavy weights. If you're a beginner, we encourage you to seek the guidance of a professional before attempting any heavy lifting. This can spare you from unwanted injuries and stress contributing to sciatica.
People who deal with diabetes are also at risk for sciatica. When a diabetic person's blood sugar remains high for an extended period, damage to the nerve fibers in the body may occur. This illness causes diabetic neuropathy, or, simply put, nerve damage that occurs in people living with diabetes.
Your nerves in the hands, legs, or feet can be damaged and can cause similar symptoms in the legs like sciatica. However, sciatic pain occurs when there is damage or inflammation in the sciatic nerve. Therefore, it's best to mention any pain and discomfort to your doctor to confirm if it's sciatica you have to deal with or nerve damage caused by diabetes. This way, you can learn how to get rid of sciatica efficiently should the need arises.
This bad habit has several health risks, including back pain and sciatica. Smoking usually prevents your body from bringing sufficient nutrients to your spinal discs, causing them to degenerate faster than usual. Eventually, the lack of nutrients in our spinal discs can manifest physically, bringing unwanted pain and discomfort. Your spinal discs can bulge, and from here will only be a series of health concerns such as sciatica pain. The longer you continue this habit, the longer your body gets deprived of proper nutrients.
Obesity has been linked to numerous health concerns, some being high-risk illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes. But having excess weight can also bring out sciatica symptoms, that is, lower back pain and leg pain.
If you're on the heavier side or just overweight, your excess weight can put unnecessary pressure on your spine. This can influence the onset of sciatica, especially when your sciatic nerve becomes irritated by the pressure. In addition, if you already have sciatica due to other factors, your excess weight may aggravate the situation more and can even make healing take longer.
The pain and discomfort of sciatica might be difficult to ignore. It's like a radiating pain that keeps getting worse as if it's shouting "mind me!" at you. However, there are some whose pain tolerance may just be higher than the rest, or if this occurs regularly, some may choose just to ignore the pain and let it run its course.
But chronic sciatica does not come without risks. If you choose to ignore or not correctly address the condition, you may experience more problems in the long run. Here are some reasons why we encourage you to address sciatica as much as possible:
If you've tried different ways to relieve sciatica pain, there might be one more option that can help you achieve lasting relief. Many patients swear by the efficacy of upper cervical chiropractic care in managing chronic back pain and sciatica symptoms. Sometimes, this unwanted pain is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine.
When you have a misalignment in the upper cervical spine, the rest of your body tends to compensate to ensure your head keeps its level and balance. When this happens, your nerves, muscles, and tissues tend to endure more pressure due to a misalignment and imbalance spine. Now, this is not something that happens overnight, but over the years, your body can shift its alignment influencing the development of health concerns, including sciatica and low back pain.
Upper cervical chiropractic care involves a gentle and precise adjustment to bring back the alignment of your upper cervical spine. This adjustment focuses on the root of the problem rather than providing short-lived symptomatic relief to your back pain. If you are ready to bring back the days when you do not have to worry about pain, it's time to give an upper cervical chiropractor a call.
You can check out our upper cervical chiropractic doctors directory to find a reputable one near you. We have an extensive list of doctors in different areas that can help you manage your symptoms and address your pain. All you have to do is pick up that phone and book your appointment.
to schedule a consultation today.
TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
