Sciatica is a common type of lower back pain in adults and older teens. It is not a diagnosis but a description of a condition in which the sciatic nerve has been compressed or irritated. Pain typically originates in the lower back but can spread to the buttocks, legs, and lower limbs, including the feet. There are many potential causes of sciatica, including herniated disks, spinal subluxations, and trauma to the area.

Your doctor can prescribe pain management therapies, including anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxers to alleviate discomfort. However, these alone are not enough to eliminate sciatic pain. One form of treatment that has shown great success in sciatica patients is spinal decompression.

There are two forms of spinal decompression: surgical and nonsurgical. During nonsurgical spinal decompression, your chiropractor will place you facedown or face-up on a computer-controlled table, harnessing your trunk and pelvis. Using a computer to customize your treatment, your chiropractor will gently stretch your spine, creating negative pressure on the disks. The reduced pressure allows bulging and herniated disks to settle back in their proper places, reducing compression of the sciatic nerve and eliminating the cause of your back pain.

Nonsurgical decompression is effective but might not be enough in severe cases of sciatica. For patients who have shown little improvement despite a combination of nonsurgical decompression and pain management medication, surgical spinal decompression could be recommended.

There are different types of surgical spinal decompression; some involve removing the bulging or herniated disks or excess bone in the area, while other procedures require removing the affected vertebra and surrounding disks. Surgical spinal decompression is used almost exclusively as a last resort after other treatment methods have been exhausted.

If you are suffering from sciatica and would like help finding relief, contact Spectrum Healthcare in Cornelia, GA. This full-service clinic offers everything from wellness care to pain management and massage therapy. To learn more about their services, visit their website. To schedule an appointment with a chiropractor, call (706) 778-0077. Like them on Facebook to read patient reviews and receive updates from the clinic.