Chiropractic Center Brick NJ can help with Sciatica
Every day, millions of Americans suffer from sciatica, a painful condition caused by inflammation of the body’s sciatic nerve. If left untreated, sciatica’s discomforting and often debilitating symptoms—ranging from annoying tingling sensations in the leg to immobilizing back pain—can negatively impact a person’s quality of life, affecting everything from the ability to walk, work and even sleep comfortably.
Luckily, chiropractors in Brick, NJ, offer an array of effective treatments for Sciatica that don’t involve painful surgery or expensive drugs:
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
During a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, treatment session, the chiropractor connects small electrodes to the patient’s leg and/or back. The electrodes shoot non-painful, soothing pulses through the body and into the sciatic nerve. The electronic pulses act as powerful pain-suppressant agents and enhance the body’s ability to produce more of its own natural pain-fighting chemicals.
Ultrasound
Many people know that ultrasound technology is a useful tool for taking pictures of organs, bones and even babies inside the body. But it is also an effective treatment for sciatica. Many chiropractors in Brick, NJ, offer the service, during which sound waves are sent through the body toward the sciatic nerve. The waves produce heat, which promotes blood flow to the area and reduces inflammation. This, in turn, reduces pain.
Spinal Adjustments
Often, sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched by vertebra. When this is the case, a relatively simple spinal adjustment can offer relief from the pain. During the adjustment, the chiropractor will realign the spine, gently manipulating vertebrae back into their proper place within the body. This relieves the pressure on the sciatic nerve, which makes the pain go away.
Ice packs and Icing
Used properly, ice can be an effective tool to treat sciatica. For mild cases, chiropractors in Brick, NJ, will apply ice packs or cold compresses to the affected areas. The Ice helps alleviate the pain by reducing swelling of the sciatic nerve and the surrounding muscles.
If left untreated, sciatica can last for six weeks (or longer in some cases). It may also be caused by something more serious than a pinched nerve. Chiropractors in Brick, NJ, can help determine what is causing sciatic and offer an array of treatment options designed to relieve the pain and help people regain their active, high-quality lifestyles.
