One of the most common reason for severe leg pain is sciatica. This condition is due to irritation, inflammation or compression of one’s sciatic nerve, a thick bundle of nerve tissue that extends down the back of the leg. The sciatic consists of five smaller nerves that extend from the spinal column before joining and traveling down the leg, where they divide into small units traveling to the thigh, knee, calf foot and toes. A Sydney chiropractor offers help for this leg pain condition.
Those with sciatica may sometimes experience pains that shoot down the leg all the way to the toes, but other times experience numbness or dull aches. Many things can contribute to sciatica. Sitting at a desk for an extended period may make pain worse, but exercise can have the same effect. Twisting activities such as baseball or golf may cause the pain to flare up.
Due to the length of the sciatic nerve, it can be irritated at many different locations. The lower back is one of these places. A misaligned vertebra can place pressure on the nerve, resulting in pain. The misalignment is known as a subluxation.
Disc herniation can also lead to sciatica. When these shock absorber between the vertebrae are damaged, they can begin to bulge and cause irritation to the nerve. This injury may be referred to as disc herniation or a slipped disc.
Chiropractors offer therapy for sciatica by locating the irritation of the sciatic nerve and then using chiropractic adjustments to relieve pressure. Once the pressure is reduced, the nerve begins to heal and the pain is resolved. Chiropractic offers a noninvasive method of relieving the condition.
Sciatica often begins as a sharp pain in the individual’s back that slowly begins to extend down the leg. Many people have found chiropractic an effective means of relieving the condition. If sciatica strikes, attack the pain with the help of a Sydney chiropractor.