Sciatica is a medical condition that is known for producing pain radiating down the leg from the lower back. It may go down the back, front, or outside of the leg. The pain is due to irritation of the sciatic nerve that branches from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. Generally, only one side of the body is affected. A person may feel numbness and tingling, sharp pains in the lower back, particularly in the hip area, and at times the pain may feel like an electric shock.
It can be surprising to learn that although a person is feeling pain in the lower back, it is actually the neck that may be causing the problem. It is also important to note that the injury to the neck may have happened a long time ago and is just now manifesting itself in different health problems. For example, if a person was in an auto accident and suffered whiplash, he may have injured one of the top two bones of the upper neck vertebrae. As time goes by, his posture changes because the body is compensating for the misalignment in the neck. The entire spine becomes off center leading to his weight being unevenly distributed. The sciatic nerve then becomes irritated, and sciatica is the end result.
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How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Can Help with Sciatica
It makes sense that the place to start to alleviate sciatic pain is where the original problem began: the upper neck. At Hejny Chiropractic, we understand the connection between the neck and the problems a misalignment causes in different areas of the body. We begin by examining the neck through detailed x-rays and other modern techniques to find where the misalignment lies. We then work with each individual patient to correct a subluxation by using a gentle, effective technique. Patients often report feeling the relief of their sciatic pain within only one or two adjustments. They are happy to find a drug-free, non-invasive way to treat their sciatica and get long-lasting relief.
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If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.