Annapolis, MD Sciatica Relief
If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from sciatica, you may benefit from seeking sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD with the assistance of the experienced team at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic. As you’re almost certainly aware, sciatica is the manifestation of pain radiating along your sciatic nerve. This nerve – which may be affected by bone spurs, herniated discs, and other complications – originates in the spine. However, pain radiating from complications with this nerve’s function generally affects the lower back and one or both legs of individuals affected by sciatica. While your physician may prescribe you medication for your pain and may (depending on the origins of your pain) recommend surgery, you may also benefit from physical therapy and/or chiropractic care for this condition. Some patients are able to utilize physical therapy and chiropractic care services to the extent that they are able to come off of their prescription pain medication.
Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
It is important to understand that you do not need to obtain a referral from your physician in order to book an Annapolis, MD sciatica relief consultation with our experienced team. While you should check with your insurance to determine whether a referral would result in cost-saving measures, chiropractic care and physical therapy appointments with our Maryland team can be booked without a referral. This is a particularly helpful piece of information for individuals currently suffering as a result of pain who can’t get in to see their physician any time soon.
When you meet with our team, we’ll assess your unique circumstances and provide you with a personalized treatment plan. Our extensive experience managing musculoskeletal concerns allows us to evaluate a patient’s needs as effectively and efficiently as is possible. Chances are high that even if you are struggling with bone spurs and/or herniation, you are also dealing with muscle weakness and/or tightness. Developing muscle strength in targeted areas can reduce and/or eliminate sciatica pain. Similarly, addressing tight spots can allow your body to move in ways that eliminate and/or significantly reduce sciatica-related symptoms.
Sciatica Treatment Is Available
Sciatica pain can be debilitating. It can inhibit your ability to work, play, attend to your basic needs, and interact with your loved ones. As a result, it is important to seek effective solutions to this uniquely painful challenge. Depending on the cause of your sciatica, you could benefit significantly from working with our chiropractic and physical therapy professionals. We work hard to ensure that patients benefit as much as they possibly can from treatments that don’t rely on surgical intervention and/or prescription pain medication. While you may ultimately need surgery and/or prescription pain medication, our treatment plans can supplement and complement these approaches. If you’re interested in sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD or surrounding communities, connect with our team today; we look forward to speaking with you.
If you are seeking sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, it is important to understand that your care plan is not a “one size fits all” prospect. Depending on the severity of your pain and/or any underlying conditions that are contributing to the source of your sciatica, you may benefit from a variety of therapeutic approaches. When you connect with the experienced team at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, we will evaluate your unique needs and circumstances before crafting a care plan that meets your unique needs, priorities, and circumstances
Sciatica: The Answers to Your Top Questions
Sciatic nerve pain can range from a mild inconvenience to a rather debilitating condition. If you are one of the many people who suffer from sciatica, there are opportunities for relief. A great first step is to learn the answers to some common questions surrounding your discomfort.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a type of nerve pain that presents from a variety of underlying causes. Your sciatic nerve runs down each leg from your buttocks to your knees. That nerve then branches and continues all the way to your toes. Pinching or compression of the nerve can cause radiating pain, numbness, and muscle weakness along its path. The exact sensation varies from person to person and has been described as stabbing, burning, or like pins and needles. You can help confirm your diagnosis by speaking with Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic.
Who Suffers From Sciatica?
While the exact symptoms and severity may vary, sciatica is a fairly common condition. In the United States, approximately 40% of individuals will encounter sciatic nerve pain. If you are part of the statistic, you can seek sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD. The chance of developing discomfort increases with age but can occasionally affect children. Other factors that raise your risk include pregnancy, herniated disks, improper posture, pelvic injury, and weight gain.
Can You Prevent Sciatica?
Depending on the source of your sciatica, there’s a chance that you will not be able to prevent it. However, there are some steps you can take that may help reduce instances. You can discuss methods with Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic. Low impact exercises that strengthen your core and back would be a great addition to your weekly routine. Also, try to be observant of your posture and the amount of time you sit in one position. Some surprising tips include adding Vitamin B12 to your diet, quitting smoking, and stretching.
How Do You Treat Sciatica?
The plan for sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, will depend on your diagnosis. Medications, such as muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories, may help ease the pain while you go through treatment. For those with a less severe prognosis, therapy should make a difference. It may be recommended to combine therapy with chiropractic adjustments, massages, and an at-home routine to improve your chances of positive results. In extreme instances, your treatment plan might have to include surgery. A physician can make suggestions throughout your treatment.
Seven Common Myths About Sciatica
Sciatica Will Go Away on Its Own With Some Rest
Rest may be a component of recovering from sciatica, but it’s far from the only option, and won’t fix the problem causing the sciatica. For sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, you may also need muscle relaxants, over-the-counter NSAIDs, steroid injections and/or physical therapy to fix the root cause and eradicate your sciatica pain.
Sciatica Pain Is Never Going To Go Away
On the other hand, you may feel like sciatica is never going to go away. At Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, you may experience multiple modalities, including physical therapy and chiropractic care, to treat your sciatica. This is often all that’s needed for sciatica to go away. However, surgery is an option for more severe cases.
Sciatica Is Due to Leg Issues
For sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, it’s important to know the root cause of your sciatica, which is compression of the sciatic nerve, which starts in your lower back and runs through your buttocks and down your legs. Not all pain in those areas is sciatica; it could be other nerve issues, including atherosclerosis and peripheral neuropathy. Your Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic team can help figure out the actual cause of your pain.
Sciatica Can’t Cause Permanent Nerve Damage
While rare, it is possible for sciatica to cause permanent nerve damage if left untreated for too long. Signs that you may have nerve damage include numbness in your leg or start having issues with bowel and bladder control. If any of these symptoms arise, seek medical care immediately.
Sciatica Only Gets Worse With Exercise
The opposite is true; sciatica gets worse when you don’t exercise. You need strong back muscles to combat sciatica, so you should exercise on a regular basis. Keep it low-impact, such as walking, swimming or using an elliptical machine so you aren’t jarring your back after your Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic medical practitioner gets done with you. You may want to add gentle stretching to your exercise routine, such as tai chi or yoga.
Sciatica Is a Condition Unto Itself
Sciatica is a symptom of several conditions, including spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis or piriformis syndrome. For sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, your doctor will do everything possible to determine what the root cause is, and treat it.
Sciatica Must Be Corrected With Surgery
Surgery to provide sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, is the last-ditch option. It’s usually treated with physical therapy, chiropractic care, exercise and occasionally epidural or injected medications.
Sciatica Relief – Annapolis, MD
You may have met with a specialist already and learned that your sciatica is being caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or other challenge that requires surgical intervention. If so, know that physical therapy and chiropractic care can provide significant benefits both before and after surgery. If your physician has indicated that your condition is such that you may be able to avoid surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and body work may help you to successfully achieve that goal. The key to treating sciatica (and/or managing post-op sciatica recovery) is to be as proactive as you can when it comes to your health and wellbeing.
What Are Some Proactive Approaches for Back Pain Relief?
Many people start seeking sciatica relief when the shooting pain they are experiencing begins to interfere with their quality of life. At this point, being proactive in your approach to care can help to ensure that your condition doesn’t worsen and that management of your pain improves significantly. Surgery is necessary for some patients. Additionally, medication may be necessary for some sciatica patients. However, others find relief primarily through stretching, exercise, uniquely tailored physical therapy programs, chiropractic care, rest, bodywork, and heat and cold therapy. Once our team evaluates both the severity of your sciatica and the underlying causes of this physical condition, we can craft a treatment plan that fits your needs.
3 Signs You May Be at Greater Risk for Sciatic Pain
Sciatica is a fairly common ailment that can cause some serious pain. Not everyone experiences it, but many people do at least once in their lives. If you’re seeking sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can help you treat chronic back pain with a personalized program. If you’re concerned about recurring back pain but aren’t sure of the cause, here are some signs you may be at greater risk for sciatica.
1. You Are Too Active or Not Active Enough
This may be frustrating to think about, but there is a “just right” level of activity to preserve the function of the human body. If you’re too sedentary, your muscles will lose strength. This can cost you support and flexibility. If you’re too active, like in a physically demanding job, for example, you’re more likely to wear down ligaments and bones at a faster rate.
2. Your Core Is Weak
The muscles in your torso and back are the only support your spine has. When those muscles deteriorate from lack of use, it’s easier for your back to move in ways it shouldn’t. This can also occur because of an injury or because you’re overweight. The more your body needs to work to move your bodyweight around, the greater your chances of irritating the sciatic nerve. Doing targeted exercises to strengthen your core can help greatly with sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, but it is also important to keep in mind that posture is key. If you don’t take the time to perfect your posture during your workout, it’ll be easy to cause further injury.
3. You Have Unhealthy Habits
There are many unhealthy habits that can contribute to your risk of increased sciatica pain. For example, smoking is known to harm the lungs, but it can also actively contribute to the breakdown of vital tissues. If you’re a heavy smoker, you’re more likely to see weakened bone and disks. If your past eating habits have caused diabetes, you are immediately at higher risk for nerve damage in general.
Seeking sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD is a goal of many, but not everyone knows how to go about it. Some people just think back pain is a part of life, especially as you age, but it’s not something you have to put up with. You can speak to Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic to learn more about how to manage your sciatica pain.
Chiropractic Assistance Is Available
If you’re suffering from sciatica, please connect with the experienced team at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic to explore your care-related options. Depending on your unique circumstances, you may be able to utilize our services to avoid surgery or you may use them to help you recover effectively from surgery. Whether you’re hoping that physical therapy and chiropractic care will be all you need to manage your sciatica successfully or you’re planning to use this treatment to supplement additional pain management approaches, we can help. When seeking sciatica relief in Annapolis, MD, know that the team at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic is here to facilitate your unique needs – we look forward to meeting with you.