Sciatica brings an unpleasant sensation that starts from your lower back and radiates to your buttocks, back thigh, calf, and sometimes your feet. If you’re among the thousands of patients who have it, you’re likely also seeking doctors or other healthcare professionals who know how to get rid of sciatica altogether. 

Sciatica is a lower back condition that is painful and uncomfortable. Usually, it happens when you have a ruptured or herniated disk, a bone spur, or spinal stenosis. Your sciatic nerve endures pressure when any of these three takes place. Once the sciatic nerve gets compressed, inflammation, pain, and even numbness in the side of the affected leg may occur.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Sciatica will bring uncomfortable sensations that tell signs of this lower back condition. In addition, the pain level may vary, and sitting for a long time can make the pain worse.

• Shooting pain in the lower back, butt, or back of the leg
• Numbness in the buttocks or leg
• Tingling sensations in the legs, feet, or toes

Causes of Sciatica

Identifying the cause of your sciatica may bring you closer to figuring out how to get rid of sciatica. However, in many sciatica cases, there is no single apparent cause. But the following conditions contribute to the development of sciatica:

• Herniated disc – The cushioning material between vertebral bones can sometimes slip, bulge or rupture. Unfortunately, the displaced material impinges on nearby nerve roots and causes searing and lingering pain.
• Lumbar spinal stenosis – This condition refers to the narrowing of the spinal cord in the lower back. It can cause severe problems, including nerve compression and damage. 
• Bone spurs – Osteoarthritis can sometimes cause bone overgrowth, which can compress or irritate nearby tissues like sciatic nerve roots. 
• Spondylolisthesis – This condition leads to slipped or displaced vertebral bones, especially in the lumbar or lower section of the spine. 
• Infection - Some infections can affect your spine and compress the sciatic nerve. 
• Injury - Physical trauma leading to injury can damage your spine and affect the attached tissues like muscle fibers and nerve roots. 
• Tumors - Abnormal mass growth within the spine can press on the sciatic nerve and leave you vulnerable to nerve damage.
• Cauda Equina Syndrome – It is a rare and severe condition that affects the nerves in the lower spine. Albeit rare, this condition needs emergency medical attention.

Sciatica Pain is Manageable

Sciatica can last for days or weeks. Sometimes, it can be debilitating or make it challenging for you to continue with your daily routine. In addition, the pain it brings can make it difficult for you to fall asleep, and it can also wake you up in the middle of the night.

While the pain can persist for years, you can manage its impact with the help of specific procedures or remedies. Depending on the severity or the root cause, you might also have a chance to resolve it.

How To Get Rid Of Sciatica Naturally

Nowadays, many of you live a fast-paced lifestyle and are used to getting things done instantly. So reaching for anti-inflammatory or pain medications may be your first step when you feel uncomfortable. 

While these medications can work for sciatica, they are a temporary fix. Therefore, finding alternative and sustainable ways for you to know how to get rid of sciatica pain is necessary. You may find one or a combination of these ways helpful to manage your sciatica:

• Keep a proper posture, especially when sitting down
• Building strength in your abdomen and lower back through exercise 
• Avoid lifting heavy stuff, but if needed, make sure you draw strength from your legs and not your back.
• Wear proper and comfortable shoes
• Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods in your diet
• Maintain an ideal and healthy body weight
• Seek upper cervical chiropractic care

How To Get Rid Of Sciatica Naturally

Nowadays, many of you live a fast-paced lifestyle and are used to getting things done instantly. So reaching for anti-inflammatory or pain medications may be your first step when you feel uncomfortable. 

While these medications can work for sciatica, they are a temporary fix. Therefore, finding alternative and sustainable ways for you to know how to get rid of sciatica pain is necessary. You may find one or a combination of these ways helpful to manage your sciatica:

• Keep a proper posture, especially when sitting down
• Building strength in your abdomen and lower back through exercise 
• Avoid lifting heavy stuff, but if needed, make sure you draw strength from your legs and not your back.
• Wear proper and comfortable shoes
• Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods in your diet
• Maintain an ideal and healthy body weight
• Seek upper cervical chiropractic care

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Helps With Sciatica

Sciatica is not permanent, and it sometimes can go away on its own. But we do not recommend leaving this condition unaddressed. The natural ways we mentioned above can all be done at home and at your own pace, except for upper cervical chiropractic care. As you might already know, upper cervical care is among the top ways to address neuropathic problems such as sciatica pain.

Upper cervical chiropractic is a unique and specific technique in the discipline of chiropractic that only focuses on the upper cervical spine (neck). Therefore, doctors who practice this chiropractic procedure apply adjustments only to the neck area, specifically the C1 and C2 vertebrae. 

Now you may be wondering: “how can neck bone adjustments help with something that affects the lumbar spine?”. The answer to that lies in the overall structure of your spine. Notably, your spinal bones are interconnected. So, if one or two slips out of place, the rest have to compromise their position to keep their head upright. This can increase your risks for sciatic nerve compression and eventually other comorbidities like a herniated disc.

Thankfully, with the help of an upper cervical care doctor, you can correct your postural misalignment and relieve pressure on your lumbar spine. The overall health of your spine is essential, and if your topmost spine is misaligned, the succeeding vertebrae tend to compensate, and the alignment shifts, which can affect your sciatic nerve. 

Hence, if you haven’t found a sustainable source of sciatica relief, we strongly suggest exploring upper cervical chiropractic. If you are keen on understanding how to get rid of sciatica, you can browse our directory of upper cervical doctors in the United States and Canada.

to schedule a consultation today.