There are more than 3 million cases of sciatica diagnosed each year in the United States. If you’re one of the many people looking for relief from sciatica pain, Dr. Michelle Oz of Momentum Chiropractic can help. Dr. Michelle and her staff provide patients in both Kennesaw and Acworth with multiple treatment options for sciatica. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain caused by an irritated sciatic nerve. You’ll typically feel pain from sciatica in your lower back, behind your thigh, and down to the back of your knee.
Sciatica pain ranges from a mild ache to sharp and intense pain. You might also experience tingling, numbness, and weakness in your leg and foot as a result of sciatica.
What causes sciatica?
Several back disorders can cause the nerves in your lower back to become compressed, resulting in sciatica pain. These conditions include:
- Bulging or herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
- Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra)
- Spinal tumors
- Trauma
- Piriformis syndrome
What is piriformis syndrome?
The piriformis muscle is located in your buttock region and assists with movement, helping to rotate your hip and turn your leg and foot outward. Piriformis syndrome occurs when your piriformis muscle spasms and causes nerve compression.
Piriformis syndrome often results in pain, numbness, and tingling in the buttocks. Your piriformis muscle can also irritate your sciatic nerve, causing sciatica.
How are sciatica and piriformis syndrome treated?
At Momentum Chiropractic, Dr. Michelle offers several treatment options for sciatica and piriformis syndrome. She determines the best treatment for you based on the severity of your sciatica, as well as your overall health, age, and weight.
Typically, sciatica improves after a few weeks of rest and a combination of these essential treatments:
- Chiropractic care
- Physical therapy
- Corrective exercises
- Cryotherapy
However, there are cases where the pain from sciatica or piriformis syndrome persists or even worsens.
If you’re experiencing pain, tingling, or numbness in your lower back, buttocks, or leg, you could be suffering from sciatica, piriformis syndrome, or a combination of the two, call or schedule an appointment online today.