Category: Chiropractic Care

How Can a Chiropractor Help with Sciatica?

Chiropractic Care

How Can a Chiropractor Help with Sciatica?

What is sciatica?

Not everyone is exactly clear on what sciatica is, it is not exactly a diagnosis but a symptom of an underlying condition.  It is a term for back pain that usually extends down the leg and it is EXTREMELY painful for those who suffer from it.  This is one of the most common reasons that patients come to see a calgary counsellor  is to find relief from the pain and immobility of sciatica.

Common symptoms of sciatica:

  • Often it is pain that begins in your lower back and it travels down the leg, sometimes all the way down to your toes.
  • Though most commonly associated with pain, sciatica can also be a burning or tingling sensation.
  • You can have numbness or weakness in the leg muscle, most often it only affects one leg and not both

What causes sciatica?

The name ‘sciatica’ comes from the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down both legs and to your toes.  The sciatic nerve is formed from the nerves that come out of the spine in your lower back.  All these nerves come together to make the largest nerve in the body – the sciatic nerve.  The sciatic nerve send messages from the brain to each of your legs, allowing you to walk feel sensations and feel it when you stub your pinkie toe on the furniture. calgary naturopathic doctors and any holistic medicine calgary can help try this url http://activebacktohealth.com/all-services-2/naturopathic/ for things like : food sensitivity testing calgary, calgary marriage counsellor 

The most common causes of sciatica:

  • Herniated discs, where one of the discs of the spine bulges out to the side and presses on the nerves
  • Trapped nerves in the lumbar spine
  • Piriformis syndrome – a muscle in the buttocks over the sciatic nerve that can irritate the nerves
  • Muscle knots in the lower back or buttocks that can cause the sensation of pain down the legs, mimicking sciatica
How Can a Chiropractor Help with Sciatica?

Sciatica is best treated with a combination of Calgary chiropractors adjustments, massage therapy, stretching along with ice packs or Biofreeze.  This allows you to address any misalignments of your spine and pelvis and can take the pressure of the nerves; it can also help with any herniated discs.  Massage therapy can help with the tight muscles around the spine and piriformis, this works in conjunction with the adjustments and relaxes muscles.  Stretching exercises and ice packs can help reduce the swelling around the nerve and help speed recovery.

The symptoms common with sciatica can also indicate more serious underlying conditions and you should be checked thoroughly by a physician before undergoing any treatment.  If you’re having trouble controlling your bowels or bladder or are experiencing numbness, then you need to head to the emergency room immediately.Some of the other great services we can help with is naturopath calgary

 

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Choose the Right Chiropractor

4 Tips to Choose the Right Chiropractor

Chiropractic Care

Typically chiropractors treat patients who are suffering from spinal, neck or limb pain or injuries.  Chiropractors can have different specialties, but most of their patients come to them after suffering a car accident or sports injury.  Chiropractors have become so popular that more than 4 million Canadians see a chiropractor each year.  Choosing the right chiropractor for your condition can seem a bit daunting, especially if you have never been treated by a chiropractor before.  Here are four tips to help you choose the right one. As Chiropractors we also use ice machines for knee injuries like best ice therapy machine for knee replacement.

Make Sure the Services Fit Your Needs

When you first consider a chiropractor make sure that they offer the service that suits your condition or injury.  Here’s an example if you are a long distance runner with a sprained ankle, then a chiropractor who works with athletes is more suited to you than one who works with whiplash patients.  Here is a video explaining the different chiropractic specialties.

Most Calgary chiropractors share clinic space and work with other health practitioners, such as acupuncture or massage therapists.  Often these can complement chiropractic care offering you a comprehensive solution for dealing with your injury, so look for a clinic that offers these services as well.

Does Insurance Cover the Treatment

Chiropractic care is not covered under the Alberta Healthcare Insurance Plan, so going to a chiropractor can become expensive.  If you need to see the chiropractor weekly or even multiple times per week depending on the injury the costs can quickly add up.  There is good news though, chiropractic care is often covered under your employers health benefits or if you have been in an automobile accident that insurance can cover treatment.  Double check with your insurance company to find out exactly what is covered, and check with the chiropractic office to see if they provide direct insurance billing.

Meet with the Chiropractor Beforehand

Each injury and treatment plan are unique and even if you have gotten a referral from a friend, that doesn’t mean that chiropractor is the right one for you.  Meet the chiropractor before treatment and discuss their specialties.  Most Calgary chiropractors will offer free consultation for just that reason.  Make sure that you are comfortable with the treatment options offered and that you like the doctor as well.

Stay Fully Informed

A good chiropractor will go over with you the entire process, what happens during an examination and get some background on your injury and overall health.  You need to have a complete outline of your treatment plan, along with duration and expected costs.  Don’t sign up for any long term plans without understanding how it will work for you.

Finding a good chiropractor in Calgary doesn’t have to be hard.  Knowing what you need and what to expect is half the battle, keep these tips in mind and you should have no problems.

 

 

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