The sciatic nerve is the largest in the human body. It is responsible for connecting the spinal cord to the skin and muscles of the limbs in the body. Any inflammation, irritation, and compression in this area may produce a painful outcome. Issues resulting from the compromise of this vital nerve are called sciatica.
Sciatica pain varies from person to person. Usually, sciatica only affects one part of the body. Some people might experience mild or achy sensations, while other people can feel excruciating pain. As a Redwood City upper cervical chiropractor, Dr. Pete Tsiglieris has taken cases involving sciatica pain. Some of his clients with sciatica pains reported the following symptoms associated with this condition:
When the affected person sits for long periods, the pain and discomfort from this condition can worsen over time. Sitting for long periods can add more pressure on the sciatic nerve, which leads to inflammation, irritation, and compression in the nerve. Leading a sedentary life can result in dire consequences, including sciatica pains.
Another activity that might add to this condition is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine's bones or the neck area. This misalignment can arise from poor posture. For example, when you hold your head at a lower angle for long periods instead of adjusting your phone or monitor at eye level, you are most likely to strain your neck and spine. This pressure can lead to the sciatic nerve's irritation, and you might end up with sciatica pains.
You might think that neck issues are not connected to the lower spine, where the sciatic nerve lies. In many cases, the underlying problem can be found elsewhere. Issues upper cervical spine, even a tiny misalignment, can lead to debilitating issues, including sciatica.
Upper cervical chiropractic is a niche that focuses on the neck area of the spine. Here at Advanced Spinal Care, we employ gentle, safe, and accurate techniques in correcting any misalignments in the upper cervical spine, leading to better healing and pain relief.
If you or someone you know is looking for a Redwood City upper cervical chiropractor for sciatica pain, give us a call (650) 595-0500. You can also set an appointment or consult with Dr. Tsiglieris by filling out this form.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
As a chiropractor for sciatica and leg pain near Redwood City, CA, I’ve grown familiar with sciatica. Sciatica is an irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. The pain begins in the lower back and travels down through the buttocks and into one or both legs.
Common symptoms of sciatica include a burning or tingling feeling down the leg, as well as pain in the hip and lower back. There can be weakness, numbness, and shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up.
Sciatica pain usually affects one side of the body, but in some cases, it happens on both sides.
Several conditions trigger sciatica. Some examples are arthritis, disc problems in the back, and trauma or injury to the muscles in the area.
Pregnancy and being overweight are also included in this list. But for some people, sciatica is a byproduct of an existing condition such as cancer. Other triggers of sciatica include swelling and inflammation.
Doctors may suggest anti-inflammatory medication. Most of these over-the-counter drugs aid in reducing swelling and pain.
Others may recommend steroid shots or muscle relaxants, but if worse comes to worst, surgery can be an option too.
However, there are other relief options to alleviate sciatica pain.
One way to alleviate sciatica pain is through upper cervical chiropractic care.
This form of relief aims to correct a possible misalignment on the top two bones in the neck. These misalignments can cause the entire spine to shift and compensate for the misalignment at the top. The resulting pressure on other parts of the spine can create a situation in which the sciatic nerve gets irritated. If you’re looking for a chiropractor for sciatica and leg pain near Redwood City, contact my clinic, Advanced Spinal Care. For questions or concerns, you may call me at (650) 595-0500.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 or you can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com
Pain along the sciatic nerve can range from being constant or acutely related to certain movements. The general experience is radiating pain from the low back to the gluteus muscles, hamstrings and even to the calves, due to pressure placed on the sciatic nerve. Unfortunately, this is a common enough predicament that as many as 4 out of 10 people will deal with sciatic nerve pain in their lifetime.
Here are number of relief options commonly provided for sciatic nerve issues:
While these are popular ways to manage the pain, they do not necessarily provide lasting results. Similarly, prescription pain killers wear off and do not deal with the source of the issue. Since the relief options normally used are only temporary, many people have begun to look elsewhere. Natural solutions have become more and more popular among sciatic nerve sufferers, not only to discover what is at the bottom of their pain but to resolve it permanently.
The sciatic nerve is a compilation of many small nerves composing one large nerve that runs from the low back. At the lower end of the spine, the nerves extend out to the legs, hence the radiating pain people experience all the way down the body. The only way to become free from pain for the long term is to find out what is irritating the nerve. More often, the issue is not in the lower spine. Considering the great capacity the lower spine has to help with extra pressure, it often ends up compensating for problems along other areas of the spine.
One of the more likely areas is the atlas, an extremely mobile vertebra at the uppermost part of the spine. This vertebra actually cradles the skull and allows it to move side to side. This is important to know because this wide range predisposes it to misalign and cause issues that affect the rest of the back. One of the side effects can be extra weight bearing for the sciatic nerve in the lower back.
To help with this condition, the people who are most skilled in caring for this specific vertebra are upper cervical chiropractors. They are trained to assess and locate any misalignments and administer gentle, non-invasive adjustments for lasting relief for their patients. An adjustment to the atlas could be the very answer to becoming pain free from sciatic nerve pain.
References:
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/sciatica-pain-relief-options
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Did you realize as many as 80 percent of people experience some type of back pain at some point in their lives? Back pain is a common reason for missed days of work due to injury on the job. Back pain affects people of all walks of life. Men, women, and children suffer from back pain. It affects the young and old. It doesn’t matter what your nationality or work environment is. Anyone and everyone can get back pain.
A variety of things can be to blame for low back pain. Some injuries can heal up quickly and others are more chronic and degenerative conditions. Here are just a few reasons for back pain.
Interestingly, the top ones of the spine are as important or maybe even more important than the lower back area when it comes to coping with low back pain. When you think of the spine, imagine it as a whole unit, not a top and a bottom. It all works together. Oftentimes, if a misalignment is present in the top of the neck, the lower back will begin to hurt because it is twisting and compensating for the problem up above. Abnormal spinal cord tension is created, in addition to a disturbance of the signals going to and coming from the brain. Muscle tension on one side of the body may be tighter than the other side. The head becomes tilted, causing the shoulders and hips to become unlevel and triggering low back pain.
Upper cervical chiropractors use a gentle method to realign the top bones of the neck, often leading to a reprieve from low back pain. This is done without the need to crack or pop the neck. It is a mild, yet effective method.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Sciatica is an extremely painful health condition related to inflammation or irritation of a nerve close to the spine. It is estimated that about 5% of those experiencing back pain also suffer from sciatica. Some factors that could cause sciatica pain to increase include:
Most of the time, sciatica only affects one leg. However, symptoms are varied and can include feelings such as:
One way to help alleviate sciatica pain is by standing and stretching. Although this is only temporary relief, it does work. Doctors will often suggest corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory drugs, and maybe even surgery in more severe cases. While these things may aid in controlling the symptoms, they do not address the root cause. In some cases, even after these treatments, sciatica returns.
It may seem unlikely that pain in the lower back could be coming from the neck. Let’s see, though, how the body works in order to appreciate how this is true.
As you probably already know, the spinal cord is a vital component of the body's operations. It is responsible for transmitting signals to and from the body and brain. Several nerves branch off the spinal cord. The spinal cord is protected by the spinal column. If the C1 vertebra, also called the atlas, is misaligned, stress and tension on the spinal cord is often the result. When there is tension, improper signals are sent to the brain that leads to postural imbalance, pain, and muscle spasms.
Postural imbalance, or poor posture, irritates the nerves because the body has to compensate for the improper posture. This can cause inflammation in the nerves, leading to sciatica pain.
In one study, a 45-year-old woman suffered from sciatica in both legs. She explored upper cervical chiropractic care, and after one month of adjustments to her C1 vertebra, she reported that sciatica in her left leg diminished. Her right leg pain improved nearly 60%. After 6 months of upper cervical care, her pain decreased nearly 98%!
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Sciatica is known to cause lower back pain that is often felt in the hips and may travel down the back of the leg into the foot. It is due to an irritation or pinching of the spinal nerve roots in the lower region of the back. Many people visit their family physician for help in caring for sciatica. This usually results in a suggestion of an over-the-counter or prescription medication. While this may give some temporary relief, unless the underlying reason for sciatica is addressed, it will probably continue to occur.
By stretching the muscles using simple exercises, sciatica may improve. Here are some good exercises to try. Please, always consult with your doctor or chiropractor before trying these.
Each exercise should be held for 30 seconds and then rest and repeat in three sets one time a day.
Another important step, if you suffer from sciatica, is to visit us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California. We can help determine if the cause of sciatica has to do with a misalignment of the bones of the upper neck and explain why this can cause lower back pain. We can then work to correct this problem and aid in giving you some relief from sciatica.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Some search for years to find what they would consider to be the perfect job. You know the kind we’re talking about. The office job with a nice chair, desk, and computer. Maybe there is even a window with a view. You clock in at 9, out at 5, and have plenty of vacation time.
In reality, very few people have the exact job described above. But even if you work 60 hours per week in a tiny cubical with 2 days of vacation time, the fact is that your comfy office chair may not be so great for your back. That’s because sitting for long periods of time consecutively just is not good for your spine.
You may think of high-risk careers as just including ‘blue collar’ jobs. But the fact is that statistics show the frequency of injury for those who spend long hours in a chair and type on a keyboard most of the day.
So what can you do to keep your spine properly aligned? Well, you may be able to change your work environment to some degree depending on your employer. There are a number of ergonomic solutions. Plus, taking regular breaks is a good plan (again, assuming your employer is okay with that).
But what if back pain has already set in? Maybe your wrist is starting to feel the strain of constant typing. Then it is time to see an upper cervical chiropractor. Why?
The feeling in your back or even wrist may actually relate to a misalignment of the top two vertebrae in the neck. Such a misalignment is common for people who sit all day at work. It can also be caused by holding the head at an angle to view a computer screen for long periods of time.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Redwood City, California is an upper cervical chiropractor who is specially trained to diagnose and correct just such misalignments. Since a C1 or C2 misalignment can place pressure on the brainstem and cause all sorts of other problems, now is the time to get examined.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
That Pain in Your Sciatic NerveWe live in a world with enough technology and medical advancements that you don't need to go on living with that pain in your sciatic nerve. You can just take a pill, and all the pain will go away within a matter of moments. That doesn't mean the underlying issue that is causing that pain will go away; it just means you won't feel it anymore.
Of course, since that medication would not be addressing the underlying issue, your Sciatica would flare up again. But you would still have that bottle of pills to help relieve your pain again, until it comes back. The cycle will continue until you do something to make it go away, and that something is to entrust your care to someone who knows how to get to the underlying cause of your pain.
Now, that person will never give you a bottle of pills, rather than will address the underlying cause of the problem by examining your upper cervical spine. That's because an upper cervical chiropractor—a doctor of chiropractic who only focuses on aligning the top two vertebrae in the spine—is focused on partnering with, to help you regain full mobility.
When your upper cervical chiropractor partners with you, they are doing so for your benefit. One thing they might do is to give you a list of exercises you can do at home that will help you in the healing process. It is important, though, that you only do those exercises on this list that your upper cervical chiropractor says are safe:
This is not a full list of exercises you can do to reduce the pain of sciatica, but we want to give your upper cervical chiropractor a chance to tell you which exercises he or say are the best for you.
Whichever exercises you do, you will want to do three sets, once a day. Hold each of these stretches for 30 second and then return your leg to its resting position. This will help you warm up your muscle, as well as it reduces the pain of your sciatica. Stretching is also always good for increasing range of motion and joint lubrication, as well as delivering nutrients and oxygen to the muscles.
All three of these stretches should be held for 30 seconds and then you should return your legs to a resting position, Make sure to do three sets, once a day. This will warm up your muscles and minimize the pain caused by your Sciatica. Stretching also increases your range of motion, lubricates your joints, and delivers nutrients and oxygen to your muscles.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Understanding SciaticaIf you suffer from pain in your lower back that extends down through your buttock, one of your legs, and possibly into your foot, then you suffer from Sciatica. That pain is caused by something irritating either your sciatic nerve or one of its five nerve roots.
Not only is this nerve the longest nerve in your body, but you have two of them. Each of them is attached to your lumbar spine, which is the lower part of your spine, by five nerve roots. Each Sciatic Nerve, then, branches into two at the knee.
When a person suffers from Sciatica, the pain is never isolated to just one place. It can be felt any place along the path of the Sciatic nerve and is often accompanied by either a “pin and needles” feeling, numbness, loss of bladder control, or muscular weakness. Sometimes, pain from Sciatica can feel like an electric shock along the nerve.
No matter how the pain of Sciatica manifests itself, it can range from a dull ache to an intense pain. You will usually feel it either when you're sitting, coughing, or sneezing. And no matter where the pain manifests itself the most, you will most likely also feel a pain in your lower back.
As we said at the beginning of this blog, Sciatica is caused by something irritating the Sciatic nerve. That thing that's irritating that nerve can be a list of several different things, thus making Sciatica a symptom of a deeper health issue.
So, what's the cause of your Sciatica. Well, there is no way to tell just by reading a blog, but here's a list of several things that may be causing that irritation against your Sciatic Nerve:
Though, another type of injury that can also lead to Sciatica is one to the spine or neck. That can be the result of poor posture placing pressure on the neck, which then places pressure of on the discs of the lower back.
Though, no matter what the cause of your Sciatic pain is, upper cervical chiropractic can be beneficial for you. This type of chiropractic is gentle and specific type of chiropractic that focuses on keeping the top two vertebrae in the neck aligned. The alignment of those top two bones in your upper neck vertebrae, or upper cervical spine, is important because it affects your brain's ability to communicate with your body.
If those two bones in your upper neck are out of alignment by only ¼ of a millimeter, it can place enough pressure on the brainstem to hinder that communication process. It will also mean that with the slightest of misalignments in those two bones, the rest of your spine will also become twisted, thus leading to all sorts of potential health complications.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Well . . . we have good news and we have bad news. That is if you suffer from pain in your lower back that shoots through your hips and buttock down through one of your legs. That pain is a pretty good sign that you may be suffering from Sciatica. That's the bad news, but the good news is that pain doesn't need to continue. You can do something to overcome that pain, but so many people simply choose to live with that pain.
What is Sciatica?
First, you're probably wondering what is causing that pain in your lower back down through your leg and why it's only affecting one side of your body. There is pressure being placed on your Sciatic nerve, which extends from your lumbar spine down through your leg. You only feel pain on one side of your body because you have two of those nerve, and you feel the pain on the side of your body that that particular nerve is feeling the pressure.
Since your Sciatic Nerve controls numerous muscles in your back, knees, and lower legs, it is important that people who suffer from Sciatica take the right steps to deal with the underlying cause of their pain. Failing to deal with it now can cause it to become numbness, tingling, muscle atrophy, or even foot drop later.
Sciatica Approaches
Of course, the question is one of the proper way to care for Sciatica. It's important that you allow a chiropractor to examine your spine for any misalignments. For instance a misalignment of only ¼ of a millimeter in the upper neck vertebrae can lead to all sorts of health complications throughout the body. That’s why an upper cervical chiropractor is uniquely trained to address misalignments in the position of the head, neck, spine, pelvis all the way down to the feet. Although your pain may be starting in your lower back and going down your leg the underlying cause may be starting all the way at the top of your spine where your head and neck come together. Our heads are very heavy weighing between 10 to 14 pounds and when the head is not properly positioned on top of the neck due to accidents and injuries the entire spine will have to shift in order to adapt to the position of the head. This can frequently lead to long-standing problems in the lower back and pelvis that are never properly addressed.
Though, while it is important to get your neck evaluated, we also understand that your appointment may not be for several days. You don't want to have to suffer until Monday or whenever your appointment is, and we don't want you to suffer. So, here are some tips of what you can do to find temporary relief until your visit to the chiropractor.
Temporary Sciatica Relief
Now, it is important that you not rely on your home exercises for complete relief. Make sure you keep and go to that appointment, so your upper cervical chiropractor can evaluate your upper neck and spine for any postural problems that may be causing your Sciatica.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
