Back pain plagues so many people, no matter the size or shape. Sharp back pain can easily creep up seemingly out of nowhere. Sciatic pain is one of the most common occurrences of back pain. Sciatic pain happens when a herniated disk presses on the sciatic nerve. This inflames the nerve and results in pain. Fortunately, you have chiropractic options to help with relief. Here are some things you need to know:

What Exactly Is Sciatic Pain?

The sciatic nerve is the longest one in the human body. It constitutes most of the lower body, including the hips, legs, buttocks, and lower back. When the pressure of the herniated disk or other bone abnormality presses on the nerve, you will feel pain in one or all of these areas.

How Do You Know You Have Sciatic Pain?

It is easy to say sciatic pain is painful, but it is important to be able to recognize the type of pain caused by the inflammation of the nerve. The pain of the sciatic nerve will generally radiate down from the lower back, through the hips, and through the legs. The pain may feel very mild in some cases. You may notice a burning feeling combined with aches. The pain may come and go. You may also notice some numbness or tingling sensations in your body. You might have some weakness in your muscles as well.

How Does Chiropractic Care Help?

A chiropractor can help you with your sciatic nerve pain through the use of spinal decompression. This is a type of therapy that uses decompression and traction to stretch the spine. The stretching of the spine will help reposition the disk or bone material pressing on the spine to ultimately decrease the pain it causes. The sciatic nerve is directly decompressed to help readjust the bone material or disk.

Once the pressure is relieved, the body can begin to heal.

When Should You See a Chiropractor?

Although some sciatic nerve pain is not debilitating, there are some instances in which you need to seek treatment. For instance, if you have pain in the area after you were injured, you cannot control your bladder, or if you have sudden, sharp pain in your back or legs, you need to contact a chiropractor for treatment as soon as possible.

Sciatic nerve pain can be extremely painful and can reduce your ability to function at your normal pace. Be sure to see a local chiropractor for pain relief treatment if you believe your sciatic nerve is causing you pain.