Sciatica Treatment In Portland
Sciatica Chiropractor
Sciatica describes the pain experienced along the sciatic nerve due to its compression known as lumbar radiculopathy. The sciatic nerve begins at the lower back and runs through the hips and buttocks, branching down each leg. This nerve is responsible for controlling and feeling the legs. Irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve leads to moderate to severe pain in your back, buttocks, and leg(sciatic neuralgia). One may also experience muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling sensation in the leg, foot, and toes. This is called sciatic neuritis.
Sciatica is usually a symptom, not a medical diagnosis. It describes leg pain that usually starts in your low back or buttocks and travels down the back of each leg. It may even radiate into your feet and toes.
If you are experiencing Sciatica in Portland, do not worry, we’ll walk you through all that is there to know about sciatica.
Causes of sciatica
Common medical conditions that may be responsible for sciatica include:
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated lumbar disc
- Spondylolisthesis
- Lumbar degenerative disc disease, degenerative changes in vertebrae or discs
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Muscle spasm and inflammation of the lumbar and pelvic muscles
- Rarely, as a result of a Tumor
Other than these, various risk factors may predispose you to sciatica, which are previous injury, higher age, obesity, incorrect posture, prolonged sitting, etc.
Sciatica refers to a pinched sciatic nerve. This large nerve is located in the lower back and runs down the back of each of your legs. Pain occurs when you experience compression of the nerve due to an accident, a tight piriformis muscle, a disc herniation, poor posture, or degenerative disc disease.
Symptoms Of Sciatica
Sciatica can be mild tingling to severe sharp-shooting or excruciating pain along the path of the sciatic nerve. One or more following features characterize sciatica are
- Mild to severe pain
- Weakness, tingling, numbness, and burning sensation in the back of the leg
- Typically affects one side of the leg
- The pain may get aggravated depending on the change in the posture like trying to stand up, sit, bend, coughing, etc
- There may be an inability to control the bladder or bowels. Which is the result of a rare condition called cauda equina syndrome (CES)
- Dull, nagging, tingling, or numbing pain in one side of your buttock or leg (rarely in both legs simultaneously)
- Pain that intensifies when sitting
- Numbness or pain spreads through your upper leg and sometimes into your foot and toes
- Sharp, shooting pain, particularly when standing up from a seated position or changing the position of the body
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Pins-and-needles sensation in the leg and lower back
Long term problems due to Untreated sciatica
If neglected for a long time, Sciatica can potentially lead to nerve damage. It is advisable to seek immediate medical attention if one or more symptoms of the following are experienced
- Leg weakness
- Sciatica pain in both legs
- Loss of feeling in the affected leg
- Loss of bowel or bladder function
- Sexual dysfunction
Tingling, numbing pain that radiates from your lower back and into your legs can range from mild to debilitating. When this sciatic pain persists, seek expert chiropractic and wellness care from top chiropractic clinics in Portland. Dr. Phil McCary at Laurelhurst Chiropractic in Portland, Oregon, helps you find the root cause of your sciatic pain and works with you to stop it from interfering with your daily life. If you live in the Portland area and suffer from sciatic pain, contact the office to make an appointment or use the online booking tool.
Sciatica Treatment
Upon diagnosis, avoid prolonged bed rest. Aggravating activities should be avoided, and one must remain as mobile as possible.
Supportive care Heating pads and Ice packs can help to relieve the sciatica symptoms temporarily. There should be regular monitoring for changes or improvements in condition.
Medications Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Muscle relaxants are the drug of choice to relieve symptoms. However, in most cases, the pain is excruciating and may require steroid and nerve pain medications to subside.
Self-care Ice packs and physical exercises comprising stretching, and correcting your posture are integral parts of sciatica treatment.
Therapies Chiropractic treatment These techniques are gaining popularity lately due to their benefits in relieving sciatica symptoms. This involves chiropractic stretching, massages, and Acupuncture, which improve the mobility of the spine. This helps in reducing the strain exerted on the sciatic nerve.
Medical procedures These include Epidural steroid injections, pain medications, and Physiotherapy by an orthopedist.
Other Treatment Procedures like laminectomy, laminectomy, and microdiscectomy are performed based on the severity of the condition.
How Laurelhurst Chiropractic Can help in Sciatic Pain treatment
Laurelhurst Chiropractic is the top chiropractic clinic in Portland for treating pain due to sciatica. Dr. Phil McCary and Dr. Danielle McCary are highly rated chiropractors in Portland and specialize in treating pain due to sciatica. They have been practicing for over 10 years in Portland.
Laurelhurst Chiropractic serves the following cities Oregon City, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton, Clackamas, Tigard, Tualatin, Milwaukie.
Call us today if you are experiencing pain due to sciatica in Portland.
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Request an appointment online by calling us on (503) 234-4288
You can also use the online booking tool below
How do we treat sciatica?
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Let Us Help to treat your Sciatica
Do not ignore your Sciatica/Pinched Nerve, it can become worse overtime. It’s important to consult with the doctor and understand the root cause of Sciatica/Pinched Nerve.
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Frequently asked questions
Are Portland Chiropractors good for Sciatica?
Chiropractic treatment techniques are gaining popularity lately due to their benefits in relieving the symptoms of sciatica. This involves chiropractic stretching, massages, and Acupuncture, which improve the mobility of the spine. This helps in reducing the strain exerted on the sciatic nerve.
Can sciatica go away permanently?
Mild sciatica cases can be easily managed with self-care and home remedies without the need for surgery within a few weeks to a month. Symptoms of sciatica may or may not recur after subsiding.
What gets rid of sciatica?
Heating pads, Ice packs, stretching, self-care, analgesic medications, and chiropractic therapies can help relieve sciatica symptoms. There should be regular monitoring for changes or improvements in condition.
Does walking help with sciatica nerve pain?
Upon diagnosis, you must avoid lying on the bed or taking bed rest. The activity must not be avoided, and one must remain active. Though walking cannot cure sciatica, it helps your body to stay fit.
What is the best painkiller for sciatica?
Over-the-counter pain medications can be taken for sciatica pain. But in case of severe unbearable pain, NSAIDs or opioid analgesics may be required, which will be prescribed by your doctor.
Is sitting bad for sciatica?
Upon diagnosis, you must avoid lying on the bed or taking bed rest. The activity must not be avoided, and one must remain active.
Does drinking water help sciatica?
Drinking water is always good, and that rehydrates the body and replenishes the fluids in the spinal discs, thus keeping sciatica at bay.
How should I lay with sciatica?
Sleeping on the back is good in sciatica, and it helps reduce pressure from the lumbar regions, thus reducing the strain on the sciatic nerve.
What should you not do with sciatica?
You may avoid high-intensity workout and exercises if you have sciatica, like exercises involving heavy stretching of the hamstrings, Straight legged sit-ups, Abdominal stretches, Weightlifting, etc.
How long does it take to recover from sciatica?
Your healing time depends on the cause of the compression of your sciatic nerve. The team at Laurelhurst Chiropractic helps you manage symptoms and regain as much daily function as possible as you heal and recover. Once the compression of the nerve is released, your body heals naturally. How long this takes depends on the severity of your symptoms and the cause of the pressure.
Does medical insurance cover sciatica treatment?
The cost of Sciatica treatment in Portland is typically covered by medical insurance. However, certain therapies, such as acupuncture, may not be covered. Visit or call Laurelhurst Chiropractic to learn more about your options.
