Do you often experiencing tingling sensations, pain, and feelings of numbness in your buttocks, lower back, and perhaps your upper thighs? These symptoms are usually attributable to sciatica, a condition in which the sciatic nerve becomes compressed. Sciatica can be debilitating and can keep you from doing the things you love most. Even walking can be painful and difficult! Thankfully, there are many ways to manage this condition and keep the pain in check. Your best bet is to see your chiropractor. Here's a look at the treatments he or she is likely to recommend.

Spinal Adjustments

Many times, sciatica is caused by a misalignment in the vertebral column. If one or more vertebrae are out of place, they may put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sometimes, the misalignment causes tissues around the spine to swell, and those swollen tissues place pressure on the nerve. In either case, having your spine adjusted will help alleviate this pressure, reducing your sciatica symptoms.

Note that one adjustment is unlikely to be a magical cure. If your spine has been out of place for a while, your muscles and ligaments – as well as lifestyle factors like your posture – will cause it to slide back into misalignment after your treatment. So, your chiropractor will need to adjust you regularly, at least at first, to keep your spine properly in line and slowly improve your sciatica symptoms.

TENS

TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical stimulation. A TENS machine delivers low-level electrical current into the muscles, and this helps reduce muscle spasms. If muscle spasms are a feature of your sciatica (as they are with many patients), your chiropractor may recommend TENS treatments. They're painless, only take a few minutes, and can be performed immediately following your spinal adjustment.

Cold Therapy

Though some chiropractors do perform cold therapy in their offices, it is likely your chiropractor will recommend you do this at home in order to keep symptoms under control between your appointments. Cold helps reduce inflammation, which should help alleviate your sciatica by taking the tissue pressure off of your sciatic nerve. Your chiropractor may give you a special ice pack that's shaped to fit your lower back and tell you to apply it for a certain period of time each day.

Don't let sciatic nerve pain get in the way of your daily life. Visit a chiropractor like those at Health Atlast Fountain Valley for treatment; it's a lot easier and less painful than you've probably imagined.