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Chances are, you came across our blog post because you have severe back pain that seems to radiate towards one of your lower limbs, and you wonder whether neck adjustments will do you any good. You’re not alone! About 10 to 40 percent of Americans have sciatica, and a significant fraction has exhausted every remedy possible to cope with the pain. Read on to know more about this debilitating condition and how you can achieve sciatica relief in Honolulu with the help of upper cervical care.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a lower back pain caused by a disruption to the operations of the sciatic nerve. It can resolve itself within a few weeks, depending on its actual cause and other medical conditions you may have. The pain and severity of every sciatica case vary depending on the type and severity of the underlying problem.
In most cases, sciatica pain can cause crippling searing pain on one side of the lower body. The burning sensation usually starts in the hips and buttocks and extends to the legs and toes. If the pain persists and you have significant nerve damage, the condition can progress and increase the risks for urinary and bowel incontinence, permanent paralysis, and muscle weakness.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty part of our discussion on upper cervical care as an option for sciatica relief in Honolulu, let us first define its symptoms and check how many of these items you experience:
- Throbbing on your butt cheeks and legs
- Reduced control of your bladder and bowel movements
- Frequent pins and needles sensation in your legs, feet, and toes
- Pain that starts in your lower back but radiates down to the rest of your lower body
- Weakness or numbness when moving your lower limbs
What are the different types of sciatica?
Unknown to many patients, sciatica can come in different forms. And while most of them can benefit from upper cervical chiropractic, it pays to get a comprehensive diagnosis to manage your risks and tailor-fit your patient care plan better.
Acute sciatica
This type of sciatica usually lasts for four to eight weeks. Of all the types of sciatica, it’s the easiest to self-manage with simple remedies, such as:
- Massage
- Cold and hot compress
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Correcting your posture
- Upper cervical care
- Light exercises (lifting, bending, and stretching)
Chronic sciatica
If your lower back pain continues to plague you for more than eight weeks, it has or is likely to evolve into chronic sciatica. This is the persistent kind of sciatica that recurs and gets worse. It also transforms ordinary activities like sitting and lying down into triggers that set off uncomfortable and painful bouts of sciatica pain.
For chronic sciatica, more intensive non-surgical methods are the go-to relief options. It also requires in-depth medical consultation to assess risks for nerve damage and lasting muscle-related problems. Here are some examples of relief options for chronic sciatica:
- Epidural steroids
- Spinal manipulation
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
Alternating sciatica
As the name suggests, this type causes alternating pain on both sides of the body. It is pretty rare, but it often results from joint degeneration. Patients with alternating sciatica usually manage their symptoms with therapy, upper cervical care, prescription pain killers, and healthy lifestyle practices.
Bilateral sciatica
Another rare type of this disorder is bilateral sciatica. Like alternating sciatica, it occurs on both sides of the legs. However, it causes constant and simultaneous pain on both sides of the body. It also traces its origins to degenerative conditions that affect your spinal bones or discs.
Wallet sciatica
Wallet sciatica is an unofficial type of sciatica. According to studies, sitting on a lumpy wallet or object in your pants’ back pocket can lead to sciatic nerve compression and eventually sciatica. Its symptoms are usually temporary, but we suggest reaching out to your physician if you see little to no improvements in two weeks.
Can Upper Cervical Care Provide Sciatica Relief in Honolulu?
The options for achieving sciatica relief in Honolulu mostly revolve around resolving the root cause of the pain – sciatic nerve compression or irritation. The sciatic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers that run from your lower back to your feet. Unfortunately, the sciatic nerve roots can get trapped between the lumbar spine bones due to postural imbalances resulting from accidents or injuries.
When you have a compressed or irritated sciatic nerve, the tissue will transmit pain signals rapidly and constantly until you manage to relieve the pressure. Additionally, its protective myelin sheath layer can break down slowly and increase your risks for severe complications like muscle weakness and paralysis.
Doctors traditionally manage sciatica symptoms with medications or, in worse cases, surgery. But nowadays, some physicians recommend seeking natural and holistic options such as upper cervical care. Chiropractors like Dr. Breuwet examine the neck bones’ position and provide ample chiropractic adjustments to restore your spine’s natural curvature.
It provides lasting sciatica relief in Honolulu by ensuring that the spinal bones don’t impinge on the sciatic nerve roots. It mainly involves running thorough diagnostic examinations of the uppermost neck bones to understand how it has changed the spine’s natural alignment. Then, once the doctor has the measurements needed, you can start receiving neck bone adjustments to ease the bones back in place.
Receive Chiropractic Care in Honolulu
If you are looking for an upper cervical clinic for sciatica relief in Honolulu, visit Upper Cervical Hawaii. Dr. Joe Breuwet and his team will see you through your recovery journey away so you can slowly minimize or eliminate back pain. The clinic utilizes the NUCCA technique, so you can expect to receive customized and gentle cervical spine manipulations.
You may start your journey to more pain-free days by booking your consultation with us through our online form or call us at 808-201-1324.
To schedule a consultation call 808-201-1324 or simply click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
