Condition of the Week: Sciatica & Nerve Pain

Hi there, HealthSource COW-munity 🐄

This week's Condition of the Week (COW) is Sciatica & Nerve Pain — one of the most common and misunderstood sources of pain that people quietly live with, often for months or even years before seeking help.

What is Sciatica?
Sciatica isn't a diagnosis on its own. It's a symptom. It refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back, through your hips and buttocks, and down each leg. When that nerve becomes compressed or irritated, it can create sensations ranging from a dull ache to a sharp, electric-like shooting pain, sometimes accompanied by tingling, numbness, or weakness in the leg or foot.

Many people are surprised to learn that what feels like a leg problem is actually starting in the spine.

Common causes may include:

• Herniated or bulging spinal discs (responsible for roughly 90% of cases)
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Piriformis syndrome (a tight muscle in the buttock pressing on the nerve)
• Bone spurs or degenerative disc changes
• Prolonged sitting, sedentary lifestyle, or repetitive strain
• Obesity or excess body weight adding pressure to the spine

Did You Know?
Up to 40% of Americans will experience sciatica at some point in their lives, making it one of the most widespread nerve-related conditions in the country. Research shows that about 80 to 90% of sciatica cases improve without surgery, especially when the underlying cause is identified and addressed early. Yet without proper care, roughly 25% of sufferers go on to deal with long-term or recurring symptoms. The good news? Most people don't have to stay in that category.

Tips for Managing Sciatica
Keep moving: Prolonged sitting is one of the biggest aggravators. Short, frequent walks throughout the day can reduce nerve pressure
Mind your posture: How you sit, stand, and sleep all affect spinal alignment and nerve tension
Stretch regularly: Gentle piriformis and hamstring stretches can help relieve nerve compression from tight muscles
Apply heat or ice: Ice for acute flare-ups, heat for chronic tightness. Alternating can work well for some people
Avoid the "push through it" approach: Unlike muscle soreness, nerve pain that's ignored tends to worsen over time

How we approach this at HealthSource
At HealthSource, we focus on natural, non-invasive, corrective care designed to address the why behind the symptoms, not just the pain itself. Since sciatica almost always has a mechanical or structural root cause, proper evaluation of the spine is the essential first step.

Chiropractic care works to restore proper spinal alignment and reduce the pressure on irritated nerve roots. For cases involving disc compression, spinal decompression gently creates space between vertebrae, improving disc hydration and relieving the nerve tension that drives sciatic pain. Class IV laser therapy can then support the body's own healing response at the cellular level, reducing inflammation around the nerve and promoting tissue repair deep in areas that are difficult to reach any other way.

Together, these approaches address both the structure and the biology of nerve pain, which is why so many patients find relief through this kind of comprehensive, non-surgical care.

Who do you know dealing with sciatica or nerve pain?

If someone came to mind while reading this, a friend who "throws their back out" regularly, a coworker always shifting in their chair, or a family member who complains about that nagging leg pain, feel free to pass this along. Sometimes the right information at the right time changes everything. Sometimes prevention starts before symptoms appear.

Sometimes prevention starts before symptoms appear.
Your referral could change a life!

Warmly,
The HealthSource of Harper's Preserve Team

SCHEDULE MY APPOINTMENT 

HealthSource Chiropractic of Harper's Preserve

Visit Our Business Listing Visit Website