Sciatica Specialist in Fairfax, VA
Sciatica is a pain that originates from injury or irritation to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the most significant and largest nerve that supplies the buttock or gluteal area.
A person with sciatica will experience pain anywhere from the lower back, the hips, down to the buttocks, and even the legs. On your first visit, Dr. Gregory Lee, DC, performs a detailed physical exam. He will evaluate your low back spine, muscles, and gait to understand what is placing pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Adjustments and spinal decompression are added to your treatment plan if we identify misalignments or bulging discs that compress the sciatic nerve. At Active Family Wellness, we monitor your progress throughout treatment and make changes as your symptoms and movement improve.
If you’re looking for a trusted chiropractor for sciatica treatment in Fairfax, call us at (703) 373-7113 to schedule an appointment.
Two Types of Nerve Irritation
- Nerve Compression
A bulging lumbar disc may press directly on the sciatic nerve. This happens when the soft inner part of the disc pushes through its tougher outer layer. The pressure can cause pain, numbness, or tingling that travels down the leg.
- Chemical Irritation
Chemical irritants from the disc material may leak out and cause inflammation and irritation around the sciatic nerve. This may sometimes cause symptoms even when the nerve is not being pressed on directly.
Symptoms of Sciatica
- A constant burning sensation or a shooting pain starts in the lower back or buttock and radiates down the front or back of the thigh, leg, and foot.
- Numbness in the back of the leg.
- One-sided symptoms typically affect one leg. Rarely, both legs may be affected together.
Sciatica symptoms may feel worse with certain postures, like sitting, trying to stand up, bending the spine forward, twisting the spine, lying down, and/or while coughing.
Causes of Sciatica
A slipped disc that directly compresses the sciatic nerve is the most common cause of sciatica.
The discs in between vertebrae of the spine may naturally wear down and degenerate. This may also cause sciatica. Spinal stenosis, the abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal, may reduce the available space for the spinal cord and nerves.
Other medical conditions that could cause sciatica include:
- Spondylolisthesis
- Osteoarthritis
- Injuries or tumors in the lumbar spine may also affect the sciatic nerve.
Long Term Problems Due to Ignoring Sciatica
Several issues can arise from untreated sciatica. They are as follows.
- Chronic, ongoing leg and back pain
- Reduced mobility and difficulty with daily activities like walking, sitting, or lifting
- Persistent muscle weakness in the affected leg
- Lasting numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
- Disrupted sleep from ongoing discomfort
- Repeated flare-ups of pain
Temporary Pain Relief for Sciatica
- Use heating pads and ice packs to relieve pain and inflammation for sciatic conditions, and you may want to alternate between both treatments to ascertain which works best for you. The typical treatment time is 15-20 minutes.
- Regularly stretching and exercising your hamstrings may improve blood circulation to the affected areas and help lessen pain and inflammation. Stretch your hamstrings to prevent them from becoming stiff and tight.
- Simple, low-impact aerobic exercise, like walking around your neighborhood or on a treadmill, can help keep your body moving and reduce stiffness and discomfort from sciatica.
- Over-the-counter analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, e.g., Ibuprofen or Naproxen, can help reduce the inflammation of the nerve and lessen the pain. A health professional is in the best position to give you advice on which will benefit you the most.
Treatment for Sciatica
- Chiropractic adjustments may help relax muscles, improve range of motion, and reduce pain.
- You may start physical therapy exercises and find that those exercise movements decrease sciatica by reducing pressure on the nerve. Aerobic exercise programs such as walking, swimming, and water aerobics are usually recommended to strengthen the muscles of your back, abdomen, and legs.
- For severe cases, an injection of a corticosteroid into the lower back might help reduce the pain and the inflammation around the affected nerve roots
- Alternative therapies may include massage, yoga, and acupuncture
- Spinal surgery may be explored as a last resort for a long-term resolution of the condition, also in very severe nerve damage, debilitating pain, and loss of bladder or bowel control
Book an Appointment
Please use the booking tool below to request an appointment. Our patient care coordinator will call you shortly to discuss your symptoms and finalize your appointment.
How Do We Treat Sciatica?
- (703) 373-7113
Let Us Help to treat your Sciatica
Do not ignore sciatica or a pinched nerve that doesn’t go away or keeps coming back. It is worth consulting our chiropractors to understand the root cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does medical insurance cover sciatica treatment?
Coverage varies depending on your plan. Our team will assist in finding out what services are covered under your plan, so that you have a clear understanding of what to anticipate.
Does sciatica go away on its own?
Most people with sciatica get better in a few weeks with at-home remedies. If your pain is fairly mild and it isn’t stopping you from doing your daily activities, your doctor will first recommend trying some combination of these basic solutions: stretching, some bed rest, hot and cold packs, OTC pain medicines.
What can make sciatica worse?
Bending down to lift a heavy object can cause a great deal of pain when one already has sciatica. Wearing high heels or uncomfortable shoes can worsen the condition. Excess weight puts extra strain on the joints and spine. Pregnancy can also add pressure on the sciatic nerve because of weight gain, hormonal changes, and the baby’s position. Poor postures when standing, walking, or sitting on very hard surfaces must all be discouraged.
Can you have sciatica in both legs?
Bilateral sciatica may happen to both legs at the same time. This type of sciatica is rare and may occur due to degenerative changes in the vertebrae and/or the disc at several spinal levels or from serious conditions such as cauda equina syndrome.
Does sitting make sciatica worse?
Sitting for long periods is generally not a good idea for sciatica. However, some tips can be applied while sitting to cushion any flare-ups.
- Use an ergonomic chair that fits your body.
- Take breaks, get up and move every 15-30 minutes.
- Sit up straight, all the way back in your chair so your back and buttocks are supported.
- Sit with both feet flat on the floor, not just your toes. Don’t cross your legs or lean to one side.
What triggers sciatica?
The following may cause an existing sciatic condition to flare up or worsen:
- Poor Posture
- Wearing tight-fit clothing
- Sitting for long periods with hard objects in the back pocket
- Using shoes with high heels that aren’t adequately cushioned
- Excessive Weight
- Bending Over When Lifting Heavy Objects
- Sedentary Lifestyle
