It's not easy to find a comfortable position when you're in pain due to sciatica. Often, the slightest movement causes burning or stabbing pain that extends from your lower back to your leg. Fortunately, your Richmond, VA, chiropractor, Dr. Scott Shaw of Shaw Chiropractic Center, offers sciatica treatments that will relieve your pain naturally.

Do you have sciatica?

Sciatica pain happens when a large nerve that travels from your lower back to your legs becomes inflamed, compressed, or irritated. You have two sciatic nerves, one on each side of the body. Usually, the problem only affects one nerve, although it's possible for both legs to be affected in some cases.

You can feel sciatica pain along the entire route of the nerve. In fact, the condition often causes pain in the lower back, buttocks, leg, and foot. Sciatica pain can also be accompanied by numbness, tingling, weakness, or difficulty standing.

You may be more likely to experience sciatica if:

• You're overweight or obese
• You have a herniated disk, degenerative disk disease, arthritis, diabetes, spinal stenosis, a bone spur, or another condition
• You injured your back
• You lift heavy objects or use twisting movements at work
• You're sedentary

How your chiropractor can help

Your sciatica treatment at the Richmond, VA, chiropractic office may include one or more of these treatments:

• Heat and Cold Therapy: Heat relieves muscle tensions and spasms, while cold therapy reduces inflammation. Both therapies are helpful in easing pain.
• Spinal Manipulation: Spinal manipulation realigns the vertebrae in your spine, reducing pressure on the sciatic nerve. Your chiropractic uses a quick thrusting motion to align your spine during spinal manipulation therapy. The treatment also relaxes your muscles and tissues, makes it easier to move without pain, and improves blood flow.
• Spinal Decompression Therapy: Spinal decompression therapy reduces pressure on your sciatic nerve by applying gentle pressure that stretches your spine.

Are you tired of living with sciatica? Make an appointment with your chiropractor in Richmond, VA, Dr. Shaw of Shaw Chiropractic center, for sciatica treatment. Call (804) 741-3068 to schedule your visit.