When pain strikes, your mind and body go into survival mode: you want to avoid making the pain worse so that you can even hesitate to get treatment for the problem! Sciatica pain can be debilitating, but if you don’t know what will happen during chiropractic treatment, you may try to “tough it out” or heal on your own to avoid extra pain in therapy.
Here is a clear idea of what you can expect from your chiropractor to put your mind at ease.
Questions and Discussion with Your Chiropractor
When you visit the chiropractor, they are interested not only in your spine, joints, and nerves but also in you as a whole person. They will likely ask you about your diet and activity level, your quality of sleep, your posture, and other relevant information that can help them understand the issue in context. With this knowledge, they can perform the appropriate therapy that will relieve your pain, help your body heal, and potentially even prevent sciatica pain from returning.
Before starting sciatica treatment specifically, your chiropractor may also inquire about whether you have items in your back pocket as you sit, which can throw off your hip and spinal alignment.
Chiropractic Adjustment
When your spine and joints are properly aligned, you should have full function and mobility. On the other hand, when they’re not, important nerves become pressed or irritated, causing pain, stiffness, and other unpleasant symptoms. Fortunately, a chiropractor guides the body back to where it is designed to line up.
For sciatica, your chiropractor can perform a few different treatments, depending on the source of your pain. Regardless of which one(s) they choose, the goal is the same: to restore healthy alignment in your spine and joints and take pressure off the sciatic nerve.
Cracking and Relief
In many contexts, hearing a cracking sound emanating from your body is not a good sign. It often means you’ve broken a bone! However, in other situations, such as cracking your knuckles, this sound doesn’t indicate something harmful. Although it may sound like your joints are grinding or hitting each other, this cracking, which can also occur during a chiropractic adjustment, usually consists of released pockets of gas and is typically accompanied by significant relief and increased range of motion.
Advice
Although some injuries or accidents can’t be anticipated or prevented, many situations that lead to sciatica pain can. Before you leave, your chiropractor may share some tips for avoiding hurting yourself again.
In the end, you have nothing to fear during sciatica treatment. Your chiropractor will gently provide the therapy you need to overcome your pain and regain function. So if you have sciatica pain, don’t hesitate to call your chiropractor right away!
About the Author
Dr. Zinovy Chukhman has earned certification in all four levels with the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and is proficient in many treatment protocols, including flexion-distraction, Gonstead, and more. With more than 20 years of experience, he finds great satisfaction in relieving pain and helping restore function to patients. If you have sciatica pain, contact AlignRight Chiropractic online or call 972-907-2800 for an appointment.
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