While mild sciatic pains resolve on their own, if your pain persists for a week or more, seeing a sciatica chiropractor in Ridgewood is pivotal to preventing the condition from worsening. Optimal Health Family Chiropractic specializes in treating sciatic pains. We improve the quality of life in patients with sciatica using spinal manipulations, physical therapy, and dietary modifications.
What Is A Sciatic Pain?
Sciatica is a condition radiating along the sciatic nerve path, branching from your lower back all the way down each leg. This condition typically occurs on one side of the body and can occur in people with herniated disks, bone spur on the spine, spinal stenosis, etc. These conditions compress a specific part of the nerve, causing inflammation, pain, and numbness in the affected leg.
Most sciatic pains resolve within a few weeks with non-operative sciatica treatment in Ridgewood. Individuals with severe sciatica experience significant leg weakness or bowel and bladder changes. In such cases, surgery may be the optimal treatment option.
When Should I See A Doctor For Sciatic Pains?
Sciatic pains can be mild or severe. Mild sciatica in Ridgewood does not require treatment as it usually goes away over time. However, you should consult one of the experienced sciatica specialists near you if self-care measures fail to ease your symptoms or your pain lasts longer than a week. You should also receive immediate medical care if:
1. The pain is severe or becomes progressively worse.
2. You experience sudden, severe pain in your lower back or leg
3. You experience numbness or muscle weakness in your leg
Besides, you must sciatica therapy in Ridgewood, NJ, if your pain follows a violent injury like a traffic accident. Patients who have trouble controlling their bowels or bladder alongside sciatic pains may benefit from joint and spine rehabilitation treatment.
What Are The Natural Ways To Help With Sciatica?
While you can manage sciatic pain with self-care measures, it is pivotal that you meet a top-rated chiropractor if your pain persists or worsens. A chiropractor can use spinal manipulation to alleviate your pain and reduce your reliance on over-the-counter medications. Also, prolonged activity can worsen your pain symptoms. Resting for a day or so can help you find relief from sciatic pain. Here are a few other self-care treatments that can help:
1. Cold packs – Place a cold pack on the painful area for 15 – 20 minutes several times a day.
2. Hot packs – If your pain persists for more than two or three days, apply heat to the painful areas via hot packs or a heating pad. Some people find pain relief by alternating warm and cold packs on the pain areas.
3. Stretching – Stretching exercises can relieve nerve root compression and reduce the pain. However, refrain from jerking, bouncing, or twisting during the stretch.
In case of sudden or severe pain in your lower back or leg, numbness or muscle weakness in your leg, or pain following a violent injury, call us at 201-505-8984 to book an appointment with our sciatica chiropractor in Ridgewood. Leaving sciatica untreated can lead to permanent nerve damage and loss of feeling in the affected leg. Get in touch with Optimal Health Family Chiropractic today.