Sciatica is a painful and common condition that occurs when one or more nerves that travel down the lower back and legs are irritated, pinched, inflamed, or compressed. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 40% of Americans will experience sciatica. While sciatica is not usually a dangerous condition, the symptoms can be painful and debilitating for some individuals. Chiropractic care can be an outstanding, holistic treatment modality for sciatica. If you live near Wheaton, IL, Central DuPage Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is a world-class chiropractic health practice that has been featured on the front page of “The American Chiropractor” magazine. Dr. Carlo Leon is a dedicated holistic health practitioner committed to utilizing a whole-body wellness approach rather than addressing issues through an isolated lens.
The sciatic nerve is a bundle of nerves originating in five nerve roots connected to the spinal cord. The body has two sciatic nerves that run through the buttock, hip, and leg on each side of the body, and individuals with sciatica frequently experience pain in these areas. Sciatica can emerge in individuals with current or previous injuries, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, tumors or cysts, or other musculoskeletal conditions. Obesity, aging, Type 2 diabetes, poor strength in the core, physical inactivity, and strenuous jobs requiring bending and lifting can also be risk factors for sciatica.
Sciatica symptoms can sometimes feel like an electric shock or a burning sensation radiating down one side of the body. Sciatica pain can also feel like paresthesia (“pins and needles”), and some individuals may experience muscle weakness, numbness, or in severe cases, incontinence. This pain can be exacerbated when an individual with sciatica bends over, coughs, sneezes, or lifts their legs while lying down.
Central DuPage Chiropractic & Rehabilitation in Wheaton, IL, offers gentle, natural treatment methods for sciatica that can help the body heal without invasive surgery or prescription drugs. Dr. Leon may recommend chiropractic adjustments to realign the spine, a form of spinal manipulation that helps relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. Other treatments for sciatica can include spinal decompression techniques, Electrical Stimulation Therapy to help heal the nerves and surrounding soft tissue, cryotherapy (cold therapy), therapeutic ultrasound, and chiropractic massage therapy.
During your first appointment, Dr. Leon will conduct a comprehensive medical assessment to understand the underlying causes of your sciatica and other painful conditions. Dr. Leon will then create an individualized treatment plan to address and help foster your whole-body wellness. Contact Central DuPage Chiropractic & Rehabilitation in Wheaton, IL, today to make an appointment with a highly experienced and qualified chiropractor. Please call (630) 665-7266 to begin your holistic journey to healing and an improved quality of life!