For individuals dealing with sciatica, can non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care and acupuncture reduce pain and restore function?
ການນໍາສະເຫນີ
The human body is a complex machine that allows the host to be mobile and stable when resting. With various muscle groups in the upper and lower body portions, the surrounding muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments serve a purpose for the body as they all have specific jobs in keeping the host functional. However, many individuals have developed various habits that cause strenuous activities that cause repetitive motions to their muscles and nerves and affect their musculoskeletal system. One of the nerves that many individuals have been dealing with pain is the sciatic nerve, which causes many issues in the lower body extremities and, when not treated right away, leads to pain and disability. Luckily, many individuals have sought non-surgical treatments to reduce sciatica and restore body function to the individual. Today’s article focuses on understanding sciatica and how non-surgical therapies like chiropractic care and acupuncture can help reduce the sciatic pain-like effects that are causing overlapping risk profiles in the lower body extremities. We discuss with certified medical providers who consolidate with our patients’ information to assess how sciatica is often correlated with environmental factors that cause dysfunction in the body. We also inform and guide patients on how various non-surgical treatments can help reduce sciatica and its correlating symptoms. We also encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers many intricate and important questions about incorporating various non-surgical therapies as part of their daily routine to reduce the chances and effects of sciatica from returning. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. ຂໍ້ສັງເກດ.
ຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈ Sciatica
Do you often feel radiating pain that travels down one or both legs when sitting down for a long period? How often have you experienced tingling sensations that cause you to shake your leg to reduce the effect? Or have you noticed that stretching your legs causes temporary relief? While these overlapping pain symptoms can affect the lower extremities, many individuals may think it is low back pain, but in actuality, it is sciatica. Sciatica is a common musculoskeletal condition that affects many people worldwide by causing pain to the sciatic nerve and radiating down to the legs. The sciatic nerve is pivotal in providing direct and indirect motor function to the leg muscles. (Davis et al, 2024) When the sciatic nerve is compressed, many people state that the pain can vary in intensity, accompanied by symptoms like tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness that can affect a person’s ability to walk and function.
However, some of the root causes that lead to the development of sciatica can play into the factor that causes the pain in the lower extremities. Several inherent and environmental factors are often associated with sciatica, causing lumbar nerve root compression on the sciatic nerve. Factors like poor health status, physical stress, and occupational work are correlated with the development of sciatica and can impact a person’s routine. (Gimenez-Campos et al., 2022) Additionally, some of the root causes of sciatica can include musculoskeletal conditions like herniated discs, bone spurs, or spinal stenosis, which can correlate with these inherent and environmental factors that can reduce many individuals’ motility and life quality. (Zhou et al, 2021) This causes many individuals to seek out treatments to relieve sciatica pain and its correlating symptoms. While the pain caused by sciatica can vary, many individuals often seek non-surgical treatments to alleviate their discomfort and pain from sciatica. This allows them to incorporate effective solutions to managing sciatica.
Beyond Adjustments: Chiropractic & Integrative Healthcare- Video
ການດູແລ Chiropractic ສໍາລັບ Sciatica
When it comes to seeking non-surgical treatments to reduce sciatica, non-surgical treatments can reduce the pain-like effects while helping restore body function and mobility. At the same time, non-surgical treatments are customized to the individual’s pain and can be incorporated into a person’s routine. Some non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care are excellent in reducing sciatica and its associated pain symptoms. Chiropractic care is a form of non-surgical therapy that focuses on restoring the body’s spinal movement while improving body function. Chiropractic care utilizes mechanical and manual techniques for sciatica to realign the spine and help the body heal naturally without surgery or medication. Chiropractic care can help decrease intradiscal pressure, increase intervertebral disc space height, and improve the range of motion in the lower extremities. (Gudavalli et al., 2016) When dealing with sciatica, chiropractic care can alleviate the unnecessary pressure on the sciatic nerve and help reduce the risk of reoccurrence through consecutive treatments.
The Effects of Chiropractic Care For Sciatica
Some of the effects of chiropractic care for reducing sciatica can provide insight to the person as chiropractors work with associated medical providers to devise a personalized plan to relieve the pain-like symptoms. Many people who utilize chiropractic care to reduce the effects of sciatica can incorporate physical therapy to strengthen the weak muscles that surround the lower back, stretch to improve flexibility and be more mindful of what factors are causing sciatic pain in their lower extremities. Chiropractic care may guide many people on proper poster ergonomics, and various exercises to reduce the chances of sciatica returning while offering positive effects to the lower body.
Acupuncture For Sciatica
Another form of non-surgical treatment that can help reduce the pain-like effects of sciatica is acupuncture. As a key component in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture therapy involves professionals placing thin, solid needles at specific points on the body. ໃນເວລາທີ່ມັນມາກັບການ reducing sciatica, acupuncture therapy can exert analgesic effects on the body’s acupoints, regulate the microglia, and modulate certain receptors along the pain pathway to the nervous system. (Zhang et al, 2023) Acupuncture therapy focuses on restoring the body’s natural energy flow or Qi to promote healing.
The Effects of Acupuncture For Sciatica
Regarding the effects of acupuncture therapy on reducing sciatica, acupuncture therapy can help reduce the pain signals that sciatica produces by changing the brain signal and rerouting the corresponding motor or sensory disturbance of the affected area. (Yu et al, 2022) Additionally, acupuncture therapy can help provide pain relief by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain reliever, to the specific acupoint that correlates with the sciatic nerve, reducing inflammation around the sciatic nerve, thus alleviating pressure and pain and helping improve nerve function. Both chiropractic care and acupuncture offer valuable non-surgical treatment options that can provide aid in the healing process and reduce pain caused by sciatica. When many people are dealing with sciatica and looking for numerous solutions to reduce the pain-like effects, these two non-surgical treatments can help many people address the underlying causes of sciatica, enhance the body’s natural healing process, and help provide significant relief from the pain.
Gimenez-Campos, M. S., Pimenta-Fermisson-Ramos, P., Diaz-Cambronero, J. I., Carbonell-Sanchis, R., Lopez-Briz, E., & Ruiz-Garcia, V. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness and adverse events of gabapentin and pregabalin for sciatica pain. Aten Primaria, 54(1), 102144 doi.org/10.1016/j.aprim.2021.102144
Gudavalli, M. R., Olding, K., Joachim, G., & Cox, J. M. (2016). Chiropractic Distraction Spinal Manipulation on Postsurgical Continued Low Back and Radicular Pain Patients: A Retrospective Case Series. J Chiropr Med, 15(2), 121-128. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.04.004
Spinal conditions such as herniated discs and stenosis can lead to radiating pain that travels down one arm or leg. Other symptoms include weakness, numbness, and/or shooting or burning electrical sensations. The medical term for pinched nerve symptoms is radiculopathy (ສະຖາບັນສຸຂະພາບແຫ່ງຊາດ: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 2020). Dermatomes could contribute to irritation in the spinal cord, where the nerve roots cause symptoms in the back and limbs.
Part of a radiculopathy physical examination is testing the dermatomes for sensation. The practitioner will use specific manual tests to determine the spinal level from which the symptoms originate. Manual exams are often accompanied by diagnostic imaging tests like MRI, which can show abnormalities in the spinal nerve root. A complete physical examination will determine if the spinal nerve root is the source of the symptoms.
ການປິ່ນປົວສາເຫດພື້ນຖານ
Many back disorders can be treated with conservative therapies to provide effective pain relief. For a herniated disk, for example, individuals may be recommended to rest and take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, non-surgical traction, or ການປິ່ນປົວດ້ວຍການບີບອັດ ອາດຈະໄດ້ຮັບການກໍານົດ. ສໍາລັບອາການເຈັບປວດຢ່າງຮຸນແຮງ, ບຸກຄົນອາດຈະໄດ້ຮັບການສະເຫນີການສັກຢາ steroid epidural ທີ່ສາມາດສະຫນອງການບັນເທົາອາການເຈັບປວດໂດຍການຫຼຸດຜ່ອນການອັກເສບ. (ສະຖາບັນແພດຜ່າຕັດກະດູກສັນຫຼັງອາເມລິກາ: OrthoInfo. 2022) ສໍາລັບກະດູກສັນຫຼັງ stenosis, ຜູ້ໃຫ້ບໍລິການທໍາອິດອາດຈະສຸມໃສ່ການປິ່ນປົວທາງດ້ານຮ່າງກາຍເພື່ອປັບປຸງການສອດຄ່ອງໂດຍລວມ, ເສີມສ້າງກ້າມຊີ້ນທ້ອງແລະກັບຄືນໄປບ່ອນ, ແລະຮັກສາການເຄື່ອນໄຫວໃນກະດູກສັນຫຼັງ. ຢາບັນເທົາອາການເຈັບປວດ, ລວມທັງ NSAIDs ແລະການສັກຢາ corticosteroid, ສາມາດຫຼຸດຜ່ອນການອັກເສບແລະບັນເທົາອາການເຈັບປວດ. (ວິທະຍາໄລອາເມລິກາຂອງ Rheumatology. 2023) ນັກການປິ່ນປົວທາງດ້ານຮ່າງກາຍສະຫນອງການປິ່ນປົວຕ່າງໆເພື່ອຫຼຸດຜ່ອນອາການ, ລວມທັງການບີບອັດຄູ່ມືແລະກົນຈັກແລະ traction. ການຜ່າຕັດອາດຈະຖືກແນະນໍາສໍາລັບກໍລະນີຂອງ radiculopathy ທີ່ບໍ່ຕອບສະຫນອງຕໍ່ການປິ່ນປົວແບບອະນຸລັກ.
Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic care plans and clinical services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols. We focus on restoring normal body functions after trauma and soft tissue injuries using Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional and integrative Nutrition, Agility, and mobility Fitness Training, and Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. If the individual requires other treatment, they will be referred to a clinic or physician best suited for their condition. Dr. Jimenez has teamed with the top surgeons, clinical specialists, medical researchers, therapists, trainers, and premiere rehabilitation providers to bring El Paso, the top clinical treatments, to our community.
Reclaim Your Mobility: Chiropractic Care for Sciatica Recovery
For individuals experiencing or managing low back pain and/or sciatica, can lumbar traction therapy help provide consistent relief?
Lumbar Traction
Lumbar traction therapy for lower back pain and sciatica could be a treatment option to help restore mobility and flexibility and safely support an individual’s return to an optimal level of activity. It is often combined with targeted therapeutic exercise. (Yu-Hsuan Cheng, et al., 2020) The technique stretches the space between the vertebrae in the lower spine, relieving lower back pain.
Lumbar or low back traction helps to separate the spaces between the vertebrae.
Separating the bones restores circulation and helps relieve the pressure on pinched nerves like the sciatic nerve, decreasing pain and improving mobility.
ການຄົ້ນຄວ້າ
Researchers say lumbar traction with exercise did not improve individual outcomes compared to physical therapy exercises on their own (Anne Thackeray et al., 2016). The study examined 120 participants with back pain and nerve root impingement who were randomly selected to undergo lumbar traction with exercises or simple exercises for pain. Extension-based exercises focused on bending the spine backward. This movement is considered effective for individuals with back pain and pinched nerves. The results indicated that adding lumbar traction to physical therapy exercises did not offer significant benefits over extension-based exercise alone for back pain. (Anne Thackeray et al., 2016)
A 2022 study found that lumbar traction is helpful for individuals with lower back pain. The study investigated two different lumbar traction techniques and found that variable-force lumbar traction and high-force lumbar traction helped to relieve lower back pain. High-force lumbar traction was also found to reduce functional disability. (Zahra Masood et al., 2022) Another study found lumbar traction improves the range of motion in the straight leg raise test. The study examined different forces of traction on herniated discs. All the levels improved the individuals’ range of motion, but the one-half body-weight traction setting was associated with the most significant pain relief. (Anita Kumari et al., 2021)
ການປິ່ນປົວ
For individuals with only low back pain, exercise, and postural correction may be all that is needed to provide relief. Research confirms physical therapy exercises can help decrease pain and improve mobility (Anita Slomski 2020). Another study revealed the importance of centralizing sciatic symptoms during repetitive movements. Centralization is moving the pain back to the spine, which is a positive sign that the nerves and discs are healing and occurs during therapeutic exercise. (Hanne B. Albert et al., 2012) A chiropractor and physical therapy team can educate patients on preventing back pain episodes. Chiropractors and physical therapists are body movement experts who can show which exercises are best for your condition. Starting an exercise program that centralizes symptoms can help individuals return to their normal lifestyle quickly and safely. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any exercise program for back pain.
Movement Medicine: Chiropractic
ເອກະສານ
Cheng, Y. H., Hsu, C. Y., & Lin, Y. N. (2020). The effect of mechanical traction on low back pain in patients with herniated intervertebral disks: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Clinical rehabilitation, 34(1), 13–22. doi.org/10.1177/0269215519872528
Thackeray, A., Fritz, J. M., Childs, J. D., & Brennan, G. P. (2016). The Effectiveness of Mechanical Traction Among Subgroups of Patients With Low Back Pain and Leg Pain: A Randomized Trial. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 46(3), 144–154. doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2016.6238
Masood, Z., Khan, A. A., Ayyub, A., & Shakeel, R. (2022). Effect of lumbar traction on discogenic low back pain using variable forces. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 72(3), 483–486. doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.453
Kumari, A., Quddus, N., Meena, P. R., Alghadir, A. H., & Khan, M. (2021). Effects of One-Fifth, One-Third, and One-Half of the Bodyweight Lumbar Traction on the Straight Leg Raise Test and Pain in Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. BioMed research international, 2021, 2561502. doi.org/10.1155/2021/2561502
Slomski A. (2020). Early Physical Therapy Relieves Sciatica Disability and Pain. JAMA, 324(24), 2476. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.24673
Albert, H. B., Hauge, E., & Manniche, C. (2012). Centralization in patients with sciatica: are pain responses to repeated movement and positioning associated with outcome or types of disc lesions?. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 21(4), 630–636. doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-2018-9
ລະຫວ່າງ 85% ແລະ 90% ຂອງບຸກຄົນທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການຜ່າຕັດບັນລຸການບັນເທົາອາການເຈັບປວດທີ່ຍາວນານ ແລະ/ຫຼືຖາວອນ. (Xin-Long Ma et al., 2017)
ຢາການເຄື່ອນໄຫວ: ການປິ່ນປົວໂຣກຜີວ ໜັງ
ເອກະສານ
Ammendolia C. (2014). Degenerative lumbar stenosis ແລະ imposters ຂອງມັນ: ສາມກໍລະນີສຶກສາ. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 58(3), 312–319.
ການຝັງເຂັມກະຕຸ້ນການປ່ອຍ endorphins ແລະສານເຄມີບັນເທົາອາການເຈັບປວດທໍາມະຊາດອື່ນໆ, ເຊິ່ງຊ່ວຍບັນເທົາອາການເຈັບປວດ. (Shilpadevi Patil et al., 2016)
ຄວບຄຸມລະບົບປະສາດ
ການຝັງເຂັມເຮັດໃຫ້ຄວາມສົມດຸນການຕອບສະຫນອງທີ່ເຫັນອົກເຫັນໃຈແລະ parasympathetic, ເຊິ່ງຊ່ວຍຫຼຸດຜ່ອນຄວາມກົດດັນ, ຄວາມເຄັ່ງຕຶງແລະຄວາມເຈັບປວດ. (Xin Ma et al., 2022)
