Sciatica Q & A

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What is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is a nerve in your back that runs from the lumbar region through each of your hips and down your legs. When this nerve becomes compressed or irritated, it causes sciatica. If you have sciatica, you may notice a pain that follows the path of the nerve. This pain may be sharp, dull, or throbbing. It may also get worse when you move suddenly, such as while sneezing or coughing.

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Sciatica is more common among pregnant women and older people. However, it can affect anyone.

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What causes this condition?

Sciatica can develop any time your sciatic nerve is irritated. In most cases, it occurs because of a herniated disc. However, inflammation in the lower back or bone spurs can also play a role in the development of sciatica.

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How do we diagnose sciatica?

Our team usually suspects sciatica based on a description of your symptoms. However, before confirming the diagnosis, we perform a physical exam and review of your medical history. In some cases, we may recommend tests to look for specific issues, such as bone spurs or other pathology.

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What treatments are available?

The team at Rochester Integrative Medicine approach the treatment of sciatica differently than conventional medical doctors. Instead of treating only the symptoms of this condition, they treat the entire patient. The goal of treatment isn’t only to relieve your pain, but also to resolve the underlying issues that led to your sciatica in the first place.

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Some of the different treatments recommended may include:

• Chiropractic care to correct problems with alignment in your spine or pelvis.

• Physiotherapy services, such as massage therapy, ultrasound, interferential electrical muscle stimulation, and lumbar decompression

• Corrective exercises to improve the effectiveness of spinal correction services

• Lifestyle advice to address any issues that may be making your condition worse

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Which treatment is best?

Each of the treatments available to patients with sciatica serves a different purpose. In most cases, our team recommends a combination of treatments to give you the best results. Before recommending any treatment, we explain how the treatment works and what we hope to accomplish.