Struggling With Sciatica in Comstock Park MI?

At Gorbach Family Chiropractic, our Comstock Park MI chiropractor and team take great pride in being the area's go-to practice for their spinal health and wellness needs. Our very own Dr. Jeffrey Gorbach is able to diagnose, treat, and help manage any number of conditions here in our office, including sciatica. If you're suffering from sciatic nerve pain and are looking for holistic, non-invasive relief, our team is here to help.

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Sciatic Treatment in Comstock Park MI

Sciatica, which is also known as sciatic neuralgia, is a condition that causes pain in the lower back, down the back of the leg, and into the foot. It can make sitting and standing for long periods of time difficult and can lead to weakness, tingling, and numbness in the leg and foot. It will often come and go throughout a person's lifetime, causing periods of varying degrees of pain and discomfort. If left unchecked, sciatic pain will generally grow worse and the nerve can become permanently injured.

The reason why the pain travels so far and seems to radiate up and down the legs and back is that it is caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. This nerve originates in the lumbar spine and extends into the buttocks before traveling down the leg to the ankle and foot. When the vertebrae in the low back are compressed, the roots of the sciatic nerve can become pinched and irritated which is what causes pain and injury.

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How Do You Develop Sciatica?

There are a number of factors that can lead to sciatica. It is most commonly caused by disc injuries and bulges. In this occurrence, the disc presses against the nerve root causing the issue. Disc Injuries can occur because of poor posture, repetitive use injuries, and accidents. Sciatica is also common when there are subluxations (misalignments) in the spine due to postural issues, pregnancy, or trauma. Some patients say they simply bent over to pick up a piece of paper and they were hit with extreme pain. The reality is that the spinal condition was probably developing for quite some time before the triggering incident occurred.

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Causes and Symptoms of Sciatic Nerve Pain

Sciatica occurs when the large sciatic nerve, which runs throughout the lower back, becomes compressed. The excessive pressure placed on the nerve then causes sharp, shooting pain that radiates throughout the lower back and sometimes to other areas of the body. And while the specific symptoms associated with sciatica can be different from one patient to the next, there are some common symptoms that patients report experiencing, such as:

• Lower back pain
• Numbness or tingling sensation
• Muscle weakness and fatigue

If you've been experiencing any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling an evaluation with our chiropractic team. Using diagnostics such as X-rays and a thorough physical examination, we can determine whether your symptoms are being caused by sciatica or another spinal problem. From there, we can get to work on customizing a treatment plan to suit your needs and lifestyle.

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Chiropractic Treatment Options for Sciatica

Chiropractic sciatica treatment is preferable to many patients because it is non-invasive and drug-free, so you don't need to worry about the potential risks and side effects that can come along with other treatment options. Furthermore, chiropractic care focuses on treating your sciatic nerve pain at its source by reducing the pressure on the nerve itself.

One of the most common treatments we recommend for sciatica is spinal adjustment, which is done manually in our office. This treatment focuses on correcting alignment issues along the spine, which can in turn relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. While you may see some improvement in your symptoms after the first session, we will typically recommend multiple adjustment sessions to ensure the best results. This treatment can also be effective in treating herniated and bulging discs, which can also lead to sciatic nerve pain.

Specifically, Dr. Gorbach performs the Diversified Technique of spinal adjustment here in our office. He is able to perform targeted high velocity and low amplitude adjustments to suit each individual's needs and even had the privilege of studying this technique at the prestigious Palmer College of Chiropractic. As a result, you can rest assured that you're in skilled and capable hands when you have this treatment done.

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If you're experiencing symptoms of sciatica, it's time to schedule an evaluation with our Grand Rapids chiropractor here at Gorbach Family Chiropractic. Give our team a call today at (616) 419-3399 to find out more about the chiropractic services we have to offer and the conditions we can treat.