Can a Chiropractor Help with Sciatica?

Is Chiropractic an Effective Evidence-Based Care for Sciatica?

Chiropractor for sciatica in Anchorage or Juneau: Sciatica can be debilitating and infuriating. Fortunately, chiropractic care is an evidence-based form of treatment that helps those with sciatica safely and effectively. 

Chiropractic adjustments and other related treatments continue to be very effective for sciatica. Misalignments along the spinal column can cause this painful condition in the pelvis or the lower back. But a multi-disciplinary approach can help relieve pain and treat the underlying cause of sciatica. 

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Sciatic Nerve Pain?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. And, being a nerve, it’s a part of the central nervous system. The nerve’s roots are located in the lower back, and the nerve itself runs from the lower back, down the back of the leg, and down to the feet. So when this nerve is irritated, it can cause pain not just in the lower back but all the way down the leg, as well. 

There are a number of causes for sciatica, including:

• Muscle spasms
• Spondylolisthesis
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Injury
• Posture
• Sleeping on a poor mattress
• Excessive weight
• Lack of exercise

Although there seem like many causes, most of them have the same general effect, whether it’s pinching the nerve, causing inflammation, or irritating the sciatic nerve. So no matter the cause, a chiropractor can help the vast majority of sciatica cases. 

Chiropractors use the following techniques and treatments to help sciatica:

• Ice Therapy – This may be used to help reduce the inflammation, helping to heal the condition. Chiropractors combine this with other forms of treatment.
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) – It is a treatment procedure that uses electrodes to block nerve impulses. The procedure stimulates the secretion of endorphins, which is the body’s natural hormone for relieving pain.
• Spinal Manipulation – The most commonly used form of chiropractic adjustment for sciatica is spinal manipulation. This method is very effective in overcoming restrictive barriers that cause nerve pain. It helps to correct vertebral subluxations and to restore movement.
• Myofascial Release – This is a mild and gentle method of stretching that does a great job of stretching and treating the related muscles. Fascial muscle restrictions, caused by herniated discs can cause pain in the leg.
• Massage Therapy – It is another treatment option, which many doctors of chiropractic will use to manage sciatic nerve pain. Massage stimulates the release of endorphins, helps promote healing, and helps prevent flare ups.  

Chiropractor for Sciatica: The Evidence

Now that you know the general treatment options for sciatica, let’s look at some studies that show how effective chiropractic care is for sciatica. 

Chiropractic vs. Muscle Relaxants

A randomized clinical trial sought to determine which was better for acute low back pain: chiropractic care or muscle relaxants. Of course, there was also a control group who took a placebo to compare the outcomes of the other two groups. At the end of the study, the authors found that chiropractic care was more effective than muscle relaxants and placebos in reducing the pain of subacute low back pain. 

Chiropractic Manipulations for Sciatica Relief

The scientific community considers randomized double-blind clinical trials to be the best studies out there. These studies are the best way people have found so far to get unbiased results. This is why this study is so impactful.

This randomized double-blind clinical trial sought to find out if chiropractic spinal manipulations actually help sciatica. 102 people with sciatica pain received either actual manipulations or simulated manipulations. At the end of the trial, the researchers found that the actual chiropractic manipulations were better for providing pain relief to sciatica sufferers. They also had no serious adverse events, which adds to the evidence that chiropractic care is safe. 

Oral Steroids Show No Improvement in Pain

While talking about the treatment of sciatica and the low back pain that often accompanies it, we would be remiss not to mention other possible treatments. Thanks largely to pharmaceutical companies and their constant campaigns to sell drugs, many people with sciatica and low back pain are prescribed medication. And while some medication does provide temporary relief, there are often consequences and side effects that come with this temporary relief.

This study, a randomized clinical trial, sought to evaluate the effects of oral steroids on a herniated disc in the low back. Physicians treating sciatica because of a bulging or herniated disc in the lumbar spine commonly prescribe these kinds of steroids. Unfortunately, there’s little evidence showing that oral steroids help. 

The results of this trial are clear: The oral steroids helped slightly to improve function but did nothing for pain compared to the placebo group. Even more concerning, the instances of adverse events were higher among those that received the steroids than those who received the placebo. 

Many people who suffer from sciatica are prescribed oral steroids. Unfortunately, as the evidence shows, these drugs do little to help. And sometimes, they seem to make things worse. This is why at our Juneau chiropractic clinic, we stick to natural, drug-free treatments that actually work, as proved by clinical trials and studies.

Chiropractor for Sciatica: Conclusion

There’s plenty of evidence to support seeing an Anchorage or Juneau chiropractor for sciatica. And Better Health has helped thousands of Alaskans in our over 20 years here. Our doctors know when sciatica is improving and when it’s getting worse. We know the best practices for dealing with sciatica in a safe, effective manner. 

Perhaps best of all, we never keep our patients waiting for long, and we always guarantee you’ll be satisfied with your first visit — or it’s free! 

Contact one of our Anchorage or Juneau chiropractic clinics today for a better way to sciatica relief. 

Resources: 

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15319761/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16517383/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25988461/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161475401468680
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1526952305004435

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