Sciatica Specialist
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The Clinic Houston Chiropractic
Michael Shiha, DC
Chiropractor & Upper Cervical Specialist located in Katy, TX
Sciatica is a back condition in which the worst pain is often in the buttock and leg. If you’ve got the shooting pain typical of sciatica, Michael Shiha, DC and his team at The Clinic Houston Chiropractic in Katy, Texas, can help. Dr. Shiha provides gentle, nonsurgical treatments for sciatica that aim to alleviate the nerve compression causing your condition. For prompt relief from sciatica, call the practice today or schedule an appointment online.
Sciatica Q & A
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition in which you get a shooting pain that goes through your hip and buttock and down one leg. Sometimes the pain affects both legs, but this is much less common.
The origin of the pain is your lower back. The sciatic nerve exits the bottom of your spine and divides into two, with one branch going down each leg to your foot. If the sciatic nerve comes under pressure, it results in the common symptoms of sciatica.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
The shooting pain down your leg is a typical symptom of sciatica. However, conditions like piriformis syndrome can cause similar pain. Other symptoms of sciatica include:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Loss of function
The pain tends to be worse when you’re sitting for a long time. Coughing or sneezing can increase the pain’s severity.
What causes sciatica?
The nerve compression or irritation that causes sciatica arises because some part of your spine is pressing on the sciatic nerve. This could be due to subluxation (spinal misalignment) or other injuries.
Conditions that cause or result from deterioration in your spine can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve. The most common problems are spinal stenosis (spinal narrowing), degenerative disc disease (which often leads to herniated discs), osteoarthritis, and the growth of bone spurs.
Sciatica can sometimes clear up in a few weeks if it’s mild and you give the tissues time to heal. Complete immobilization is seldom wise, but changing your activities so you’re combining rest periods with gentle exercise could be helpful.
What treatments can help with sciatica?
If you aren’t improving or the sciatica symptoms are getting worse, you should visit Dr. Shiha for a thorough evaluation. He can confirm whether you have sciatica or some other condition and what’s causing the nerve compression.
Using gentle chiropractic manipulation, Dr. Shiha can relieve the pressure on your sciatic nerve. The methods he uses don’t cause any cracking or popping; they simply ensure everything in your spine is correctly aligned.
These techniques also reduce inflammation and improve blood flow to the area, helping the tissues to heal.
To get relief from painful, persistent sciatica, call Michael Shiha, DC, today or book an appointment online.
