LEG PAIN & SCIATICA
What is Sciatica and what causes it?
Most patients that present to our Los Alamitos office complain of either
neck or back pain. With lower back pain there is often pain down the leg
often referred to as sciatica. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve made
up of many smaller nerves that exit the spine and spinal cord and supply
nerve energy from the brain and spinal cord down the leg to all the
muscles and skin of the upper and lower leg. It courses down the back of
the leg in the hamstring area. When pain is felt here or in the calf
muscles, or if you have a tightness/cramp that will not go away, this is
a case of sciatica.
If this is the symptom, there is likely pinching or interference to the
nerves somewhere between the spine and where the pain is felt. When
different aspects of the sciatic nerve are pinched, some patients report
pain on the side or front of the leg. The pain, cramping, tingling or
numbness can even be felt down to the foot or heel. If the nerve is
pinched it is most commonly due to a vertebra that is out of alignment
with either the vertebra above or below it. We refer to this as a
“subluxated” vertebra.
For our patients with lower back pain and/or sciatica we do a thorough
evaluation, usually including x-rays to be sure of where the spinal
subluxation is, and to be certain it is a chiropractic problem. If it
appears a chiropractic problem at that point we will review our findings
with you and outline the most appropriate course of care.
Our treatment includes one or more of the following: specific
chiropractic adjustments, neuromuscular re-education, massage, ice, heat
and instructions on home care.
Contact :McMullin & Stark
located in Los Alamitos, CA for treatment of your leg pain and sciatica
or your leg pain and sciatica related condition or injury.
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