Pinched Nerve In Leg: Sciatica and Chiropractic Care
Pinched nerve in leg: The sciatic nerve is situated in the lower back (spine) and continues down into the leg. It’s noted as the largest single nerve in the human body. When this nerve is triggered and/or inflamed, it can cause a medical issue known as “sciatica.”
This read will take a look at the types of injuries that can cause this condition, its response to chiropractic care, and the importance of future rehabilitation.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is considered a medical symptom and not a separate medical diagnosis as some may assume. Instead, it is often linked with persistent lower back problems that trigger symptoms such as the ones associated with this problem. 
The type of lower back problems that can be linked to this condition includes spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, lumbar herniated disc, and spondylolisthesis.
When this medical term is brought to light, it’s often used to describe lingering symptoms of leg pain including numbness, tingling, and general weakness. This pain or discomfort can start to travel from the lower back (spine) and head through the buttocks into one’s legs. This can be traced with the sciatic nerve in each leg. Please note, this pain is not always consistent and may become infrequent from time to time. In some cases, the symptoms may be irritating while others may report the pain to be unbearable.
Types of Injuries
In addition to specific medical conditions that can cause this issue, there are other standalone injuries that can lead to this condition. It’s going to vary from patient to patient, which is why it’s important to have a medical professional take a look as quickly as possible.
The injuries can include:
* Collisions (Sports)
* High-Impact Accidents
* General Trauma to the Lower Back
In many cases, doctors will report a noticeable rise in such symptoms with athletes from high-contact sports (i.e. football, rugby).
Causes
As mentioned, the causes of these injuries can vary based on what the person was doing or what type of accident they got into. For those with medical conditions, the problem can stem from
Degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, and Spondylolisthesis.
Female patients also report noticing symptoms during and/or after pregnancy.
Response to Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is highly recommended as a treatment for a pinched nerve in leg. It’s incredibly important to speak to a qualified chiropractor and begin customizing a robust treatment plan. The chiropractor will be able to assess the condition, its symptoms, and how to tackle it professionally.
The treatment plan will include specific exercises, movements, and additional therapy that is catered to the patient’s needs.
Future Care
Continued rehabilitation is of utmost importance and does have a role to play in the treatment process. It’s important to have a proper treatment plan in place with rehabilitation kept in mind. This should include a noticeable lifestyle change from top to bottom.
Future care should include:
* A Detailed Exercise Regimen (Includes Stretching)
* Healthy Diet (Complete Intake of Nutrients)
* Elimination of Heavy Lifting
The goal of rehabilitation is to maximize previous results and keep the symptoms at bay. This will continue to keep the body in good shape and it’s best to incorporate these changes as soon as possible.