Low back complaints account for 35-37% of the average number
of office visits a chiropractic physician sees in a given month(1). Sciatica
is a condition where people have pain in the low back and hip radiating down
the back of the thigh and into the leg(1). This condition is often
confused with many others by patients we see because there are several
conditions a patient can have that can cause similar symptoms.
A common reason for this pain is a bulge/herniation of a
lumbar intervertebral disc(2). This occurs when the disc between
each vertebrae have damage to them and part of the disc presses onto the spinal
nerve. This is a common occurrence with patients that engage in activities that
have violent rotation or flexing of the vertebral column(2).
Sciatica can also be caused by another condition called
peripheral nerve entrapment. This is a neuropathy disorder that has similar
symptoms as sciatica: prickling,
burning, or jabbing pain along a nerve that is occasionally accompanied with
weakness in the legs(3). When
this occurs, a muscle compress on the sciatic nerve and produces the sciatica
symptoms. According to Dr. Michael Leahy, DC, creator of the Active Release
Technique (ART), the most common sites for nerve entrapment with the sciatic
nerve are(4):
·
Deep to biceps femoris muscle
·
Between adductor magnus and
semimembranosis/tendinosis muscles
·
Superior gamellus muscle
·
Piriformis muscle
·
Long dorsal sacral ligaments
We have an array of treatments available to our patients for
this and other low back pain problems. Our office utilizes traditional
chiropractic care, including Flexion and Distraction adjustments, as well as
Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, Cold Laser Therapy, Shockwave
Therapy, Ultrasound Therapy and Rehabilitation Exercises.
A select few of the other conditions that we see in our
office that have symptoms that mimic bulging/herniated disc injuries are:
·
Piriformis Syndrome
·
Facet Syndrome
·
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
·
Lumbar Muscle Strain
·
Spondylolisthesis
·
Stenosis
Call (561) 313-9117 to schedule an appointment today to see
how best we can diagnose and treat the cause of your sciatica pain.
1)
Differential Diagnosis and Management for the
Chiropractor, 4th Ed.; Souza, Thomas S.; Jones and Bartlett
Publishers, Pages 143-201
2)
Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 5th Ed.;
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Moore, Keith L., Dalley, Arthur F. Pages
502-504.
3)
Illustrated Orthopedic Physical Assessment, 3rd
Ed.; Evans, Ronald C.; Mosby Elsevier Publishing; Page 144
4)
Active Release Techniques Soft-Tissue Management
System, 2nd Ed; Leahy DC, Michael
Dr. Christopher Knapp, D.C.
