Sciatica is a painful condition that can result in numbness and tingling in the legs and sharp pains in the lower back, specifically near the hips. So how can upper cervical chiropractic help with sciatica if the back pain caused by the condition is focused in lower part of back? Consider the connection.
The entire spine is all connected. Thus, the area where the pain is presenting currently is not necessarily where the original problem was. For example, whiplash from a car accident could cause an injury to the top two vertebrae. This could affect a person's posture over time. As a result, the alignment of the entire spine could be thrown off resulting in an unequal weight distribution. Finally, it may result in sciatica.
Ultimately, a person could have problems all up and down their spine, while the initial injury in this case was to the upper part of the neck. Thus, to treat the real problem and not just the symptoms, the top two vertebrae need to be properly aligned. Then proper posture can be restored.
Thus, upper cervical chiropractic may be the best way to attain drug-free, natural relief if you are suffering with pain from sciatica. Be sure to visit a upper cervical chiropractic facility to determine if this is the best way to treat your condition. Though it may at first seem counter intuitive to align the upper spine when the pain is lower, this may be your best option.
To find an upper cervical chiropractor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City, California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
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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/
Most of us tend to ignore our back, that is, until back pain flares up, resulting in a dull, constant ache and/or a sudden sharp pain. Back pain can be caused by a fracture, sprain, or other accidental injury, can be caused by a medical condition, being sedentary and overweight, or simply be the result of a misalignment of the spine. The good news is that back pain can be prevented. Following are 5 ways to improve the health of your back.
Put in the effort to maintain a healthy weight, 10 pounds within your ideal weight. Excess weight can creep up on you and when it does most of us aren't aware of how seriously it affects us. Extra pounds, particularly in your midsection, will make back pain worse because it shifts your center of gravity and puts strain on the lower back.
Always pay attention to your posture. Maintaining the right posture plays an important role when it comes to preventing back pain due to the fact that muscle strain and pressure on the discs, back joints and ligaments is aggravated by bad posture. Some posture breakdown is outside of our control and we will talk more about that later. But you can maintain good posture when sleeping by attempting to keep your head centered over your neck as much as possible. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, always sleep on your side or back. When sleeping on your side it is important to have a pillow that is supportive enough to keep your head in alignment with your spine. When sleeping on your back it is good to have a pillow underneath your knees in order to take pressure off your lower back.
Always support your lower back while sitting by using a pillow that's specifically designed for the purpose or using a rolled up towel or small pillow. This will help to maintain the normal curvature in your lower back. Remove the support every half an hour for a few minutes to change the position of your lower back. It's also a good idea to invest in a good mattress since most of us spend a lot of time in bed. Take the time to do some research, ask friends and family for recommendations, read reviews and test the mattress you’re considering at the store. It's important to keep in mind that what works for one person might not work for you, so be sure take the time to find the best choice for you.
Take the time to warm up before exercising or other activities. Jumping right into any activity with cold joints and muscles will definitely increase your risk for injury. There are a number of ways to warm up including Yoga and Pilate moves; you should consider taking a class to learn a variety of moves or look them up online.
Lower back pain is frequently related to changes in posture. Many postural changes are outside of your control. After all, nerves tell muscles how to pull on the spine. If the nerves are sending the wrong message, your posture will continue to be distorted. Postural adaptations such as your head tilting to one side, shoulders being uneven, hips being uneven are all signs of an underlying problem leading to these types of postural changes.
The spine is an extraordinary arrangement of bones, tendons, ligaments, discs, nerves and muscles designed to be strong, flexible and protective. Most of us take what the spine does for granted; that is until something goes terribly wrong. When the spine is aligned correctly, it's incredibly stable and strong. When a misalignment takes place at the top of the neck, the spine adapts or compensates for it in an attempt to protect the nervous system, triggering a chain reaction from the top of the spine to the bottom. Upper cervical chiropractors have been helping people who suffer from lower back pain for years by addressing the underlying cause of these postural changes. These patients usually end up experiencing a phenomenal improvement in both the frequency and severity of their low back pain thanks to upper cervical care. Plus, upper cervical chiropractors are able to address these underlying postural changes without any of the popping, cracking or twisting of the spine common with general chiropractic manipulation.
If you would like to learn more about this gentle and precise approach or to find a doctor in your area, go to www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City, California area and would like to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click here.
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/
Sciatica is a disorder which causes a set of symptoms including pain in the derrière or leg that becomes worse when sitting, standing or squatting, also it can cause a burning or tingling “pins and needles” sensation in the leg, weakness, numbness, difficulty of motion in the foot or leg. The sciatic nerve runs from the spine through the buttocks, the tight and down the leg on both sides of the body. It is not abnormal for symptoms to manifest only on one side of the body.
Back pain and sciatica can be caused by disc problems in the back. Muscle trauma or injury is another cause for sciatica. Extra weight causes pressure on the lower back, so pregnancy and obesity are also common sciatica pain causes. In addition there are some spinal diseases such as swelling, arthritis and cancer that can cause the pain as well.
Most sciatica patients begin with NSAID’s such as Advil which help to bring down swelling and pain levels. Muscle relaxers and epidural steroid medicines are also used for anesthetic and swelling relief. In certain cases, surgery can be done, to fix a damaged disk or remove a tumor, for example. But many people are concerned about the side effects associated with drugs and surgery.
Seeking proper alignment through upper cervical chiropractic could be the answer to relieve your back pain and sciatica without drugs or surgery. The ultimate goal of upper cervical chiropractic care is to correct misalignments in the spine that may be leading to long standing postural problems.
So since upper cervical chiropractic focuses on alignment in the area of the upper spine, how does it help sciatica which is pain at the lower area of the spine? It helps because misalignment in the top of spine causes a shift that forces your body to compensate. Therefore, fixing misalignments at the top of the spine through upper cervical chiropractic, can help as your body begins to perform properly with no more over-correction for misalignments at the top of the spine. If you are interested in the benefits of upper cervical chiropractic for sciatica, begin by scheduling a consultation with an upper cervical chiropractor in your area.
To find an upper cervical chiropractor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Bay Area, to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click here.
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/