Numb Hands or Feet? You May Have Sciatica

Sciatica is a common medical condition that primarily causes numbness, pain, and weakness of the hip, legs, and feet. It is often caused by compression or irritation on the sciatic nerve and the slipping of a herniated disk.

The sciatic nerve is arguably the longest in the human body running from the lumbar spine gluteus muscles to the thighs. So once the nerve is compressed, it creates a sensation that originates from the butts, hips, or back in most cases.

However, be it back pain or Sciatica, definitely you wouldn’t love to stay with an underlying condition limiting your capabilities. And that’s why we at Creekside Chiropractic are here to help you. Schedule a free appointment with our chiropractor in Salt Lake City, UT, to get the best treatment for Sciatica.

In the meantime, let’s learn more about this disorder and the various natural treatments available.

Sciatica Basics

It’s estimated that 10% to 40% of the US population experience symptoms of Sciatica each year, making it one of the most common causes of pain for Americans. Despite this, many people easily confuse Sciatica with back pain, although the two disorders intertwine.

As per research, 5%-10% of people with back pains will at some point in their lives experience sciatica symptoms. So there may be a relationship between the two chronic conditions.

Causes and Symptoms of Sciatica

As mentioned above, Sciatica is most often caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). There are also less common causes like infection and tumors in the spine that compress adjacent nerves.

With Sciatica, the symptoms below are the most common.

• Pain that runs down the back of your thigh into your calf (usually worse with sitting)
• Pain that radiates down your leg to just above your ankle
• Numb Hands or Feet
• Weakness or loss of control over certain muscles in your leg

Treatment of Sciatica

Various treatment options for Sciatica exist. Here are the basic ones.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist will help you develop an exercise program tailored to address your specific needs while avoiding activities that may exacerbate or cause further problems with Sciatica.

Physical therapy aims to help you regain as much function as possible by working with your neurologist or other healthcare providers to address any underlying causes of your sciatica symptoms, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.

Heat and Cold Therapies

You can also use cold packs and heating pads to temporarily relieve muscle spasms. Heat may help relax tense muscles, while cold packs can ease pain and swelling by constricting blood vessels.

But don’t apply heat directly to the skin because it could burn and damage tissues.

Have Numb Hands or Feet? Reach Out to a Sciatica Chiropractor

As we have mentioned, numbness is one of the symptoms of Sciatica. If you have numb hands or feet, or other symptoms associated with Sciatica, reach out to us today at our Creekside Chiropractic clinic in Salt Lake City, UT. We use a non-invasive, holistic approach, addressing the whole condition rather than just treating symptoms to get you back on track within the shortest time possible.