Sciatica is pain rather than a disease (as often thought, falsely) that radiates along the line of the sciatic nerve. This nerve is located on your lower back side and extends through the hips, buttocks, before splitting downwards to each leg. Typically, sciatica affects just one side of the body. The sciatica nerve happens to be the longest in the human body and relays signals between the lower part of the body and the CNS. This pain is starting to be more prevalent today, keeping many work-going individuals at home for many days in a year. Do you suspect you're having an onset of sciatica? Are you out for more information about this pain? Your top-rated Charlotte chiropractor recommends you get a bit deeper in it:

Signs and Symptoms of Sciatica

The hallmark of Sciatica is a sharp pain radiating from the lumbar region (lower spine area) to the buttocks down to one of your legs. You might feel slight discomfort along the whole line of the nerve, but it tends to be profound at points where nerve endings start from the main sciatic nerve.

The pain varies in individuals, from mild aches to sharp, burning sensations or, in extreme cases, an excruciating pain. It can be felt more during coughing or sneezing. Prolonged sitting is known to aggravate the symptoms. Some patients report muscle weakness or tingling sensation around the lower backside or in the affected foot or leg.

The physician may fail to correctly diagnose Sciatica owing to the many ways the pain manifests itself.

Main Sources of Sciatica Pain

The pain often arises from:

• Serious injuries

• Disc injuries

• Bony projections

And the risk factors are:

• Age-related changes on the spine

• Obesity (which increases the amount of stress on the spine)

• Occupation (any job that requires you to twist your back often or exert undue stress on your spine)

• Prolonged sitting

• Diabetes

Bone overgrowths (bone spurs) on your vertebrae are the main causes of Sciatica because they often end up pinching the nerve. Of course, any significant injury on your lower back side can also be the cause, especially if it causes misalignment in your spinal column irritating or trapping the sensitive nerve.

All causes of this pain have one feature in common – an inflammation of the sciatic nerve and propagation of the pain throughout your body.

Fortunately, you can manage Sciatica fairly easily without involving drugs. The technique focuses more on the symptoms than the problem itself.

Treating Sciatica with A Simple Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors will decline prescription drugs to cure Sciatica, and that's a nice thing because they have a more effective and better way of helping you get your life back. All you need is a simple adjustment on your spinal cord and the pain will go away. Spinal misalignment contributes to a majority of causes of Sciatica, so that's spot on. If you follow the advice of your Chiropractor and complete the "dosage" or duration of the realignment, you will be able to kick away even the most Chronic Sciatica in a matter of weeks. However, you need an accurate diagnosis so that you don't end up stressing your spine with unnecessary treatment.

Prevention

Sciatica can be hard to keep at bay. It is even known to recur in patients that successfully got rid of it. However, these daily life practices can reduce the chances of developing pain. The trick here is to protect your back:

• Maintain proper sitting posture. Choose a seat with comfortable lower back support complete with a swivel base and armrests. If the seat feels uncomfortable, consider adding a rolled towel or pillow in the small space left at the back to achieve a normal curve. Also, keep your hips and knees level.

• Use healthy body mechanics. If you must stand for a long time, consider resting one foot on a small box or foot once in a while. Avoid bouncing or walking while bent to one side – move straight up. When lifting and carrying heavy loads, disperse the weight on your lower extremities. Also, avoid lifting weights and twisting your body at the same time.

• Exercise Regularly. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Sometimes a simple jog down the walkway every evening can help keep Sciatica away.

When to Contact the Doctor

Mild pain that goes away in a short period isn't enough, but you should see a Chiropractor when it persists. If you had a violent injury in the past one week, contact the doctor. The trouble with controlling your bladder and bowels too should compel you to seek the doctor’s advice.