Sciatica In Bethesda MD

Sciatic nerve pain in Bethesda MD is an uncomfortable condition that affects millions of Americans every year. Many people will simply wait until the pain goes away rather than making an appointment with their doctor. This is a bad idea, because it can actually make the pain worse in the long run.

The thing with sciatic pain is that is never from patient to patient. Some people report a mild ache in their hip or leg, where others may feel like they’ve dislocated their hip because the pain is so extreme. Here are a few things that you should know about sciatic nerve pain.

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What causes sciatic nerve pain?

Unfortunately, there is no specific injury or diagnosis that can simply explain away the pain caused by sciatica. In general, it can be caused by a variety of things, including:

• Herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• A pinched or stretched sciatic nerve
• Piriformis syndrome
• Or many others

It can also be exacerbated by pregnancy in female patients, and in extreme cases, can be caused by a tumor, blood clot, or other condition that needs immediate medical treatment.

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What are the symptoms of sciatica?

While it does vary from patient to patient, generalized symptoms of sciatica include pain on one side of the back or buttocks. This pain can be localized, or it can spread all the way down the affected leg. If left untreated, it can progress to extreme weakness or loss of mobility in the foot or leg that is affected.

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What is traditionally used to treat sciatica?

Most patients rely on over the counter pain medications like Tylenol, Aspirin, or Ibuprofen for pain management, as well as cold packs to reduce inflammation. If needed, a doctor can prescribe stronger pain medication to help take care any discomfort. Physical therapy is one of the most common treatments, and surgery is only used in extreme cases. Any treatment will depend on what is causing the sciatic pain in the first place.

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Is sciatic pain a normal part of life?

Absolutely not. Any sort of constant or consistently recurring pain is something that should be addressed with your doctor or primary care provider. In very rare cases, acute sciatic pain can actually be an indicator for something more serious.

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What treatments do you offer at your clinic?

Our treatment regimen for sciatic nerve pain includes chiropractic readjustments, specifically those that target the spine, lower back, and hips. These can help to take a lot of the pressure off of the sciatic nerve that may be causing your pain. Heat and/or cold treatments, and anti-inflammatory medication can also help.

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Do you have any advice for people suffering from sciatic pain?

Don’t wait. Call your doctor and make an appointment today. Sciatic pain is one of those conditions that will not resolve itself and can actually become dramatically worse if left untreated. There is no reason for you to live in pain, and we are here to help.

Before you decide on having back surgery please contact Montgomery County Chiropractic in Bethesda today. Our team will help you with an concerns you have. Back surgery can be a very permanent option. Please consider chiropractic care before you make that type of commitment.