Sciatica Leg Pain QuestionsMillions of Americans suffer from the effects of chronic pain each and every day. Pain is your body’s way of letting you know that something is not right. Leg pain can manifest itself in one of several ways: aching, numbness, tingling, throbbing, or burning sensations. It could range anywhere on a scale of mild to excruciating and last anywhere from a short time to chronic or long-term. If you notice that moving your leg in a certain way or that standing/sitting in a certain position aggravates it, the pain could be due to sciatica. Either way, the team at Advanced Medical of Twin Cities understands you want that pain gone today.

Signs of sciatica pain: Sciatica is a pain that starts in the lower back, around the waistline, and can travel down the leg into the foot. The pain in the leg may appear to be worse than the pain in your back. You might find that the pain is worse when you sit, bend, or twist, while the pain seems to get better when you walk or perform light activity. If the sciatic nerve has been pinched severely or over a longer period of time, you may find that the muscles in the leg or foot can appear weak.

Why me? How did this happen? Leg pain due to sciatica is most common in adults between the ages of 40 and 50. It generally develops over time and does not typically result from trauma. Typically, this type of damage comes from wear and tear that has resulted in the inflammation of discs and the growth of soft tissue in your spine. This damage irritates the nerves in the spine that travel down the leg.

Is there anything that I am doing to make things worse? There are several risk factors that have been known to increase the likelihood of sciatica. Being overweight is one of the leading causes, as roughly 80% of your body’s weight is carried on your lower back. Another major cause of sciatica comes from improper body alignment and body mechanics. This means those who are sedentary (sitting a lot) and those who do repetitive actions (such as constant bending over) add undue pressure on the lower back and spine. It’s worth noting that there is also a correlation between smoking and sciatica.

Relief From Leg Pain Due To Sciatica

Most patients see great relief from sciatica pains through chiropractic care. Treatment plans are customized since sciatica differs in location and cause. Advanced Medical of the Twin Cities will treat the pain with non-invasive methods and will focus on adjusting the spine, allowing for the healing process to begin and reduce irritation. If you are having leg, hip, or back pain, let Advanced Medical get you moving properly once again. In Golden Valley, MN, call our team at (763) 541-1280.