Sciatica is a nerve condition that can cause tingling, burning, or shooting pain in the lower back, hip, and leg. Sciatica symptoms can interfere with daily activities and make sitting or walking feel almost unbearable. The good news, at Carolina Rehab, we can relieve pain without drugs or surgery using functional medicine.
The Sciatic Nerve
The sciatic nerve is the longest in your body. It emerges from your lower spine and branches through the lower back, buttocks, hips, and down each leg.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition in which pain occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated, inflamed, or injured. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated or slipped disk in the lower spine. Some other factors that can cause or contribute to sciatica include:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Pregnancy
- Muscle spasms
- Prolonged sitting
- Sedentary lifestyle
- If you’re an athlete, especially a runner, symptoms of sciatica might be caused by piriformis syndrome, a tightening of the piriformis muscle in the lower region of the hip and buttocks area.
Symptoms of Sciatica
Some of the most common symptoms of sciatica include:
- Lower back pain
- Hip pain
- Leg pain
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
Most of the time, sciatica occurs only on one side of the body. The pain may be constant or intermittent. Some people feel a pain that travels down the path of the nerve.
How Can Functional Medicine Relieve Sciatica Pain?
Here at Carolina Rehab and Physical Medicine Center, we treat the whole person to get you healthy and back to living the life you want to live. Functional Medicine practitioners focus on discovering the root causes of problems. For example, if you are suffering from sciatica, we focus on locating what is triggering your sciatica symptoms as opposed to just addressing the symptoms themselves. We focus on the four pillars of health:
NUTRITIONAL THERAPIES AND HEALING
STRESS RESILIENCY
HORMONE HANDLINGS
FUNCTIONAL THERAPIES
For more information about Functional Medicine, please see our July blog: The Functional Medicine Approach to Health.
Your Customized Program
The first step is a comprehensive evaluation to determine the root cause of your sciatica. After your evaluation is complete, we will create a custom plan to relieve your pain, reduce inflammation, and restore function. This approach goes beyond treating symptoms. It supports the natural healing processes of your body and promotes better health overall. Your treatment plan may include:
- Platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP injections)
- Chiropractic care
- Trigger point therapy
- Spinal de-compression
- Physical Therapy
This holistic approach can offer long-lasting relief from pain, and many patients experience a full recovery after completing the recommended plan.
Conclusion
Sciatica pain can cause difficulty performing even the simplest daily activities. So, do not wait to come in and see us. If you are looking for effective and long-lasting relief for back pain in Little River, Carolina Forest, Murrells Inlet, Garden City, Forest Brook, Conway, Little River, Longs, or any nearby city in South Carolina, call us today at (843) 249-9787 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Craig Strickland