Sciatica is an ailment that causes pain, numbness and tingling in the legs. It occurs when a nerve in the lower back gets pinched, causing it to send signals of pain to the legs. This nerve is known as the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower spine to the feet. In this article, we'll tackle sciatica's progression timeline to help you manage your risks and seek effective methods that provide sciatica relief in Calgary.

Sciatica: A Brief Overview of The Situation

Up to 10 to 40 percent of the US population is affected by sciatica. This means that plenty of people are experiencing this pain right now—even as you read this article!

The good news is, most cases of sciatica can potentially resolve independently within a six-month or two-year timeline. However, suppose you're experiencing its symptoms for longer than two weeks, and they are severe enough to interfere with your daily tasks, such as getting dressed or driving. In that case, you should seek medical attention immediately. A medical professional can diagnose you and recommend the best available source of sciatica relief in Calgary that you can take advantage of, not only for your sciatica pain but your overall health.

How does Sciatica Affect People?

The sciatic nerve comprises five major nerves: two in the lower back and three in the pelvis. The last section of these nerves runs outside each thigh through their respective hamstring muscles and then into their calves. As such, if any part of this nerve becomes irritated or damaged—whether from an injury or an underlying cause—it can cause pain anywhere along its path: in your lower back, buttocks, hips, thighs, and legs, both inside and out.

What Causes of Sciatica?

Multiple factors can cause sciatica. One of these factors is an injury or trauma to the lower back region where this nerve originates. This could happen by falling on one's butt.

Another factor could be degenerative disk disease (DDD), which involves the degradation of spinal disks over time due to age or wear-and-tear on your body's tissues. Other possible causes include pregnancy complications such as pelvic girdle pain syndrome, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or pressure on the nerve roots in your lower back due to pregnancy.

The symptoms include:

●     Pain that radiates down one leg

●     Numbness in one foot or part of your lower leg

●     Weakness in one foot/leg/foot drop

●     Tingling or burning sensation in one foot/leg/foot drop

Sciatica can be excruciating, but there are many ways to work around it and experience slight relief. The first and most necessary step is to seek medical attention as soon as you notice it not getting better after two weeks. In situations like this, addressing it sooner rather than later is better to lessen the risk of further and irreversible sciatic nerve damage.

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How Does Sciatica Pain Progress?

Sciatica pain can be debilitating, but many ways exist to reduce its intensity and the frequency of the flare-ups. It is essential to understand the progression of sciatic pain to know what you can do before it progresses too far.

However, most people don't realize that sciatica pain is often reversible if you know the right care options. Unfortunately, individuals who do not receive help or fail to respond to medications notice a significant progression of their sciatica pain. Sometimes, they reach a point where they can't return to normal activities of daily living and may even be forced into disability. That's why it's crucial to understand when it may be too late.

When Is It Too Late?

The answer is that there is no one time when it is too late. However, some signs indicate your body has been in pain for so long that reversing the pain may be an uphill battle.

Suppose your sciatica has progressed to where you have difficulty standing up straight or sitting down without using your hands for support. In that case, chances are your body has to make structural compromises. This can lead to muscle and joint problems that can prevent you from moving around with ease.

Effective and Lasting Source of Sciatica Relief in Calgary

If you are experiencing persistent pain and are looking for a way to manage it without relying on medications or invasive procedures, try one of the most recommended sources of sciatica relief in Calgary – upper cervical chiropractic care!

Upper cervical chiropractic care may be an safe and excellent choice for you! This method uses gentle manipulations of the neck bones. Several case studies have illustrated how helpful upper cervical is at reducing the intensity of sciatica symptoms in many patients over time. It does that by fixing the alignment of the vertebral bones starting from the most susceptible section – the cervical spine. It then releases the tension on the muscles and joints, reducing inflammation and improving blood flow to the various sections of the spine – including the lumbar region.

During a typical upper cervical chiropractic appointment, your chiropractor will examine your spine and pelvis, looking for physical signs of misalignments that could cause problems like sciatica. You will also undergo three-dimensional X-ray scans of the uppermost neck bones to understand how their alignment affected your lumbar spine.

Then, your upper cervical chiropractor will apply the necessary adjustments with the help of the measurements obtained from the initial assessment.

For quality sciatica pain care, visit Vibe Health and Spine in Calgary, Alberta! Our chiropractors are trained in the science, art, and discipline of upper cervical chiropractic. Let us help you experience significant sciatica relief in Calgary. You may book your consultation or adjustment schedule with us by calling (403)-266 2283 or (587) 803-3354 or by filling out our online contact form.

To schedule a consultation with Vibe Health and Spine, call our Calgary office at 587-803-3354. 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.