One moment you are moving normally, then you find yourself experiencing a sharp, stabbing pain in your lower back or hip. You are most likely experiencing a condition known as sciatica. It is caused by your vertebrae pressing on one or more of the sciatic nerve roots as they exit your lower spine. Multiple reasons could explain why your vertebrae are pressing on your sciatic nerve, but most can be resolved with chiropractic care. At The Spine Doc in Birmingham, Dr. Herring has helped many patients resolve their sciatica through chiropractic care and resume a pain-free lifestyle.
What is the Sciatic Nerve?
The sciatic nerve is actually two nerves that branch out from the base of your spinal column above the tailbone and extend down to your feet in each leg. The nerve itself has multiple branches that emerge from between the lumbar vertebrae, then combine together as it descends downwards.
How Sciatic Nerve Pain Happens
Sciatica happens when something causes your vertebrae to fall out of alignment and tilt to one side. The vertebrae in your spinal column normally rest in a horizontal alignment with fibrous, fluid-filled discs providing a cushion between each vertebra. The spine is designed to flex in multiple directions, but sometimes a condition develops that causes the vertebrae to tilt out of their alignment and put pressure on the sciatic nerve root.
The pain is usually one-sided because the tilt puts one side of the vertebrae higher than the other. One side of the vertebra pushes down on the nerve root while the other side creates a gap that will not connect with the nerve root. Multiple vertebrae can be involved or just one. The vertebra doesn't always push on the nerve in a consistent fashion which causes you to feel pain at some times and not others.
How A Chiropractor Can Help Your Sciatica
Chiropractic care for sciatica involves manipulating the spine in a manner that restores it to its natural alignment. The muscles and soft tissues that control that area of the spine begin to work in concert with each other again and pull evenly instead of unevenly. The normal spacing between your vertebrae is restored, preventing the vertebra in question from pressing on your sciatic nerve going forward. You will be able to move freely without worrying about random shocks of pain.
Contact The Spine Doc in Birmingham, AL
Chiropractic care is proven to help relieve sciatic nerve pain. Call our team today at (205) 951-3330 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form to schedule an appointment with Dr. Herring.
