That sudden shock down your leg, the intermittent numbness and tingling, and even the pain in your backside are all signs of sciatica. Your sciatic nerve root begins in your low back, branches out through each buttock, and travels down the length of your leg. That’s why you feel pain in your extremities even when the source is a couple of feet to the north.
Dr. H. Khayal at the Premier Health and Chiropractic and Wellness Center is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic sciatic pain. He uses the most advanced diagnostic tools to locate the source of your nerve problem and then develops a multidisciplinary treatment plan that integrates chiropractic care and other natural health care applications.
Part of Dr. Khayal’s comprehensive, holistic approach includes a wellness evaluation, because he knows that your lifestyle choices and overall health play important roles in your recovery. For example, if you’re suffering from sciatica and you’re also overweight, part of your treatment plan may include an exercise and weight loss program. Here are ways your weight is linked to your sciatica.
Spinal stress can cause sciatica
If you’re overweight or obese, you’re asking all of your body parts to work harder, which means they will wear out sooner. This includes your organs, muscles, joints, and spine.
Extra stress on your spine is particularly dangerous because it houses the hub of your nervous system. Obesity exerts undue pressure on your vertebra all day long until the discs between them become damaged and can no longer protect your nerves.
If that happens in your lower back, it’s very likely that the pinched nerve will be your sciatic nerve — the longest one in your body.
Obesity can aggravate existing sciatica
Whether or not your weight caused your sciatica, if you already have it due to injury, herniated, disc, or some other condition, being obese can definitly make it worse.
In the same way that wearing high-heeled shoes pushes your body weight forward and changes the way you stand, extra weight, especially in your midsection, can make you front-heavy. This abnormal position automatically calls your back, hips, and hamstrings into action to correct your stance.
This combination of movements and flexions can easily compress your nerve, which exacerbates your sciatica.
Recovery is more difficult
Obesity causes inflammation; inflammation causes pain.
As Dr. Khayal works with you to treat the problem causing your sciatica, losing even a few extra pounds can speed up your recovery process. Not only will movement become easier and less painful, but your inflammation will decrease significantly and maximize your treatment efforts.
Treating your sciatica
Dr. Khayal believes in decreasing your dependence on medications and optimizing your body’s own regenerative properties. He uses careful, strategic chiropractic manipulations to help ease the stress on your compressed nerve, as well as relaxing massage therapy, cold laser therapy, and body-strengthening exercises to you correct your musculoskeletal system and help you get lasting relief from chronic sciatic pain.
If you’re tired of dealing with sciatica, give us a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Khayal today.