How to Choose the Right Chiropractor for Sciatica?

How to Choose the Right Chiropractor for Sciatica? - Norman O'Dell

Sciatica is a surprisingly common condition that can affect anyone at any time. Luckily, there are many ways to treat sciatica, so you don’t have to live with the pain and discomfort. However, when choosing a chiropractor for sciatica, it’s crucial to find someone who has experience treating this specific type of injury and other types of back problems. 

Here are some factors worth considering when looking for your next chiropractor.

What is sciatica, and what are the symptoms?

woman holding lower back with diagram over it

Sciatica is a condition or pain that is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. It commonly occurs because of a herniated disc and can happen in people who have osteoporosis or arthritis.

You may experience some pain when you sit for long periods, and your upper legs feel numb to the touch. You might also notice some difficulty walking as well as problems controlling your bowel movements and bladder control. In addition, the lack of mobility can cause deep muscle spasms in other parts of the body like neck muscles, shoulders, lower back, and knees.

Sciatica sufferers usually find relief from taking medications prescribed by their doctors, such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which reduce inflammation around joints and help with aches and pains.

How to deal with sciatica pain?

3 woman in yoga class

There are many ways to treat sciatica pain, and it depends on the type of treatment that your doctor recommends for you. Some treatments include:

  • Medications such as NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, or narcotics can be used short term.
  • Physical therapy exercises like stretching and yoga are best done in conjunction with medication.
  • Acupuncture is an option if physical therapy doesn’t work because it helps relieve stress from muscles by stimulating them through needle insertion at specific points around the body.
  • An electrical stimulation machine might also be recommended by doctors instead of surgery when looking for chiropractors – this technique sends electric currents into tissues, so they become more flexible. It’s important to note that electrical stimulation can cause pain at the treatment but usually goes away after a few sessions.
  • Medications and acupuncture can be dangerous for pregnant women, so it’s important to talk with your OBGYN before starting any treatment.
  • Surgery is used as an option when other treatments have not worked. There are different types of surgeries that doctors might recommend, such as spinal decompression, laminectomy, and discectomy.

Preventing sciatica from happening again: You should always use good posture by sitting up straight in chairs or standing properly instead of slouching, which may contribute to more back problems. 

The best way to prevent further episodes if you’ve had them is through prevention exercises like stretching every day. Other ways to prevent sciatica from happening again are avoiding lifting heavy objects, exercising too much, and prolonged sitting.

How to choose the right chiropractor for your needs

doctor showing patient hip skeleton diagram

You must find someone who has experience treating sciatica-specific injuries and other types of back problems because there can be different treatments for each type. For example, if they treat only musculoskeletal disorders, the treatment might not work on your specific condition.

It’s also crucial that you look at their credentials before making any decisions about where to get treated by a professional – it should state whether or not the practitioner is certified with an association recognized by The Council on Chiropractic Education.

It’s also worth noting that not all chiropractors are the same, and they might have different philosophies about what causes sciatica – some blame it on a sudden change in position. In contrast, others believe it can be hereditary or caused by more severe conditions such as cancer, tumors, or infections.

Some of these other factors to consider when looking for doctors who specialize in treating this condition is:

  • Whether you want regular adjustments but don’t want to go through time-consuming consultations which could take up your whole day;
  • If you prefer an office with less staff or one where patients wait around before getting treated, so there are fewer people around them;
  • And finally, do they offer payment plans?

It should state their rates somewhere on their website. If not, then it’s best to ask them yourself before making an appointment.

You must be selective when choosing a chiropractor because the treatment for sciatica can vary depending on what type of injury it has been caused by – there are different types such as mechanical, vascular, and neurological injuries.

The most common treatments for all three causes include medications or surgery. However, they might differ regarding how much recovery time patients expect following treatment, whether medical interventions will help reduce pain levels; and if some surgical procedures leave scars. 

Most importantly, make sure your doctor knows about your specific condition so they can recommend the right course of action from their point of view!

The importance of choosing a specialist in spinal care who has experience with patients suffering from sciatica

man getting shoulder adjusted chiro

If you suffer from sciatica pain, you may be looking for a qualified chiropractor with experience in treating sciatica.

You might have heard that the wrong treatment could cause more pain and make your condition worse, but what does this mean? Improper treatment is any course of action that doesn’t consider the nature of the problem causing your symptoms-in other words, and it’s not addressing the source of your pain.

Neck manipulation can sometimes create neck or shoulder injury by unintentionally overstretching muscles or ligaments surrounding those joints. Therefore, even if they are related to back problems (which they often are), these types of treatments should only be carried out under close supervision. 

Similarly, an inappropriate pressure point massage on the upper back area around the spinal cord can cause a temporary numbing sensation but is not recommended for patients with spinal cord injury.

The wrong treatment can also result from an inexperienced practitioner using inappropriate or unfamiliar techniques and treatments on you-even if they are known to work in other cases. Therefore, you should always check that your chiropractor has proper qualifications and experience in dealing with sciatica pain before trusting them with your body.

A well-versed chiropractor like Dr. Norman O’Dell of O’Dell Family Chiropractic in Webster and Rochester, NY understands the severity of your pain and provides you with a treatment plan tailored to your needs. They might also recommend additional treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and pain medication in conjunction or instead of spinal manipulation.

If you are struggling with sciatica, please you may want to consider visiting this website odellfamilychiro.com to help you schedule an appointment with the right specialist.

A chiropractor that specifically treats sciatica pain and relieves your pain or discomfort can help you get your life back. They will first assess your condition and then provide a personalized treatment plan and recovery programs.

It’s essential to choose one suitable for your needs, so make sure the chiropractor you visit has experience with patients who have suffered from sciatica pain in the past.

The right practitioner not only will relieve any discomfort caused by sciatica but also teach you how to avoid future problems.

Tips on how to find a qualified chiropractor near you

chiro and patient shaking hands

There are proven ways for you to find a qualified chiropractor near you. First, you can research any reputable website for chiropractors in your area and make sure they have “chiropractor” as one of their specialties. 

You can also call a few clinics to see any openings within the next week or two and ask questions about experience levels before setting up an appointment with them. Do not forget that it is vital to interview several doctors before deciding which one will be best for you.

Word of mouth is an excellent way to find a qualified chiropractor near you. Ask around at your local gym, school, or office and see if anyone has any recommendations for doctors in the area who have had good experiences.

You can also search online reviews to get an idea of what other people are saying about this doctor before going in for a consultation. If there is nothing but negative feedback, it might be best to look elsewhere since that could mean the quality of service will not meet your needs.

Finally, you can check with family, friends, relatives, or colleagues who have similar conditions as you do. They may know of a qualified chiropractor worth trying out and can let you know about their experience with them.

Chiropractors are the experts in back pain relief, so they should help provide information on finding a qualified chiropractor for sciatica without any issue whatsoever.

Common misconceptions about back pain and sciatica treatment and how to avoid them

lower back pain diagram

There are many misconceptions about the causes of back pain and sciatica. One misconception is that all lower back problems originate from a herniated disc.

While some people with sciatica have suffered injuries to their discs, there are other potential culprits for lower back pain. This includes ruptured or bulging muscles, strained ligaments, bone spurs, arthritis in the spine (especially severe), tumors, or an infection caused by bacteria or virus infections like shingles.

Another common misunderstanding among sufferers of chronic low back pain is the treatment options available to them. Many patients believe they need surgery when more conservative treatments could be just as effective and reduce their chances of developing future spinal deformities associated with axial loading.

It is crucial to find a chiropractor who will take the time to get to know their patients and discuss all of the treatment options available before suggesting surgery.

Suppose your physician has told you that you need spinal surgery. In that case, it’s always best to first consult with another doctor or a specialist like a neurologist or pain management center for a second opinion about whether surgery is essential.

It could be possible that nonsurgical treatments may work just as well in relieving back pain and sciatica symptoms if not better than traditional surgical procedures offered by many surgeons today.

Final words

woman getting back adjusted by chiro

The primary goal of chiropractic care is to help patients live healthy and pain-free lives.

A chiropractor is an expert in low back pain treatment, including sciatica. They will use spinal adjustments and other therapies to relieve discomfort in the spine by reducing muscle tightness or correcting vertebral misalignments that cause pressure on nerve roots or nerves around your spine.

If you are experiencing chronic back problems, talk to your doctor about trying out conservative treatments before resorting to surgical procedures like laminectomy surgery, which often has high recurrence rates due to scar tissue build-up after the operation.

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O’Dell Family Chiropractic

Primary Location
853 Ridge Rd
Webster, NY 14580
(585) 671-9210

Secondary Location
144 Metro Park
Rochester, NY 14623 US
(585) 671-9210