This is a three-part series on the sciatic nerve. It will include a brief overview of the sciatic nerve anatomy and physiology, causes of sciatic nerve pain (sciatica), and treatments for sciatica.
by: Dr. David Futral
We have covered the anatomy, physiology, and major causes of sciatica. We will conclude this series by outlining the common treatment options for sciatic nerve pain. Note that treatments are determined based on the cause and patient and should be discussed with a medical provider. I will briefly cover treatment options but will leave the details to surgeries and injections to medical professionals who perform such treatments.
The major cause of sciatic nerve pain is a disc problem. This includes herniations, bulges, etc. Treatment options for disc problems include: surgery (discectomy and disc replacement), injections (epidurals and local corticosteroids), decompression, chiropractic manipulation, cold laser, physical therapy, and prescription medications. If arthritis is the cause of the sciatic nerve pain, manipulation, prescription medication, cold laser, and physical therapy tend to be good options. Piriformis syndrome is a much more rare cause of sciatica. When this is the cause, manipulation, physical therapy, and prescription medication often are utilized as treatment.
Chiropractic manipulation is the realignment of joints to optimize function. In the case of sciatica, the doctor realigns the vertebrae that may be causing irritation of the disc or nerve. This generally takes multiple treatments for the vertebrae to remain in place as they should. We use a gentle, safe adjusting technique in our office to realign the spine.
Decompression is a process by which the vertebrae are gently and minimally spread apart using a machine or a special table in order to relieve the pressure on the bulged disc. This procedure creates an environment where the disc material can be pulled back into place and allow the tissue to heal.
Cold laser is a safe, FDA cleared treatment for sciatica, as well as other conditions. It does not heat the tissue so it is safe to use over any surgically replaced joints. It has no known negative side effects. The function of the therapy is to reduce inflammation thereby reducing pain while simultaneously affecting the mitochondria of the cell to promote ATP synthesis which allows for regeneration of healthy tissue.
Physical therapy will help stretch and strengthen the involved muscles. Along with chiropractic, it is often used in conjunction with prescription medications for treatment of sciatic pain.
If you are experiencing sciatic nerve pain, give our office a call and we can assess the cause and lay out the treatment options that will best serve you.
Yours in health,
Dr. David Futral