If you’ve ever suffered from sciatica, then you know the extreme pain it can cause. Sciatica is a nerve pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve usually originating from the lower back all the way down the buttocks and sometimes the leg.
What Causes Sciatica?
The main cause of sciatica is usually a herniated, slipped, or bulging disc that causes pressure on the nerve root, which can cause extreme pain, numbness, weakness and more. Studies show that 1- 5% of people will suffer a slipped disc during the course of a lifetime. Although not incredibly common, the pain and intensity can stop you in your tracks.
Sciatica can be diagnosed many ways. Our Littleton chiropractic office will go through a series of medical questions, as degenerative diseases may be the culprits here. Our Littleton chiropractors may do in-house x-rays to determine if you have any bone spurs or abnormalities in your spine. After your exam, our experienced chiropractors will recommend an individualized chiropractic sciatica treatment plan, which may include trigger point injections.
Chiropractic Treatment For Sciatica May Include Trigger Point Injections
In short, trigger point injections are an in-office treatment that can help dramatically reduce pain.
What to expect? During the trigger point injection, medication is placed into the trigger point to help alleviate the localized pain (i.e. low back pain), as well as the referred pain from the trigger point (radiating pain you feel in other areas like your leg). The medication injected is generally a combination of steroids and anesthetics.
A trigger point (where the injection will go into) is a small knot or knots that form in muscles or fascia tissue, which is what causes the pain, muscle soreness and irritation. Have you ever had a massage therapist find a spot in your back that you didn’t even know hurt until they pressed on it? Trigger points are similar to that, but when they become extremely irritated, you’ll feel the pain constantly without anyone having to find it for you. Many times a chiropractor or other medical provider will push on an area to see your reaction. If you feel extreme pain to the touch, they’ve found a trigger point.
Trigger point injections won’t immediately make the pain go away, unfortunately. Because sciatica and other trigger point pain issues are the result of constant and repeated movements, it may require a few weeks of chiropractic therapy and physical therapy to start to see and feel results from chiropractic for sciatica.
Because of the nature of the injections (which obviously uses a needle), our Littleton chiropractors can apply the treatment to the concentrated pain point, which is a much more effective way of treating pain, especially sciatic pain. Once you diagnose the root of the problem and where the pain originates, it’s much easier to treat the patient rather than just their symptoms. Since sciatica is usually felt in a specific area, trigger points are an extremely effective treatment for sciatic pain. Our Littleton chiropractors have the goal of stopping your pain, not just for the moment, but to make it go away for good.
Trigger Point Injections Are Also Used For:
– Severe muscle spasms
– Specific trauma to a certain area of the body
– Tension headaches or migraines
Our Littleton chiropractic office is comprised of three experienced chiropractors that want to diagnose and treat your pain, without prescribing medications or recommending surgery as the first court of action. Many in-office therapies can help treat sciatica, knee pain, hip pain, and so much more.
A combination of chiropractic adjustments, trigger point injections, guided stretching, and physical therapy will usually provide the best results. Medical massages can also help to loosen up the tight muscles and tension in your trigger points to help relax and relieve pain.
Read more about our Littleton chiropractors and our entire medical team. If you’re suffering from low back pain or something else, call our Littleton chiropractors at 303.904.0331 today. We offer same day appointments and emergency chiropractic appointments for those suffering extreme pain, so be sure to mention that when you call to book your chiropractic appointment. We offer on-site x-rays and a number of other chiropractic services and treatments to ensure your visit is as easy and effective as possible.
