No one wants to be in pain, especially pain that can last for a long period of time. Unfortunately, the symptoms of sciatica can cause severe pain, sometimes to the point of interfering with your ability to perform daily activities. While many people assume they can just wait for the pain to subside, that may not work for many types of sciatic pain. Determining what is causing the pressure on your sciatic nerve is essential, particularly since some of the causes can be dangerous. If you want to learn more, read on for information about the benefits of sciatica treatment.
Why should you seek treatment for sciatica in Denver?
Suffering from sciatica can be incredibly painful and even debilitating in some cases, which is why you need to seek professional care as soon as you start to experience sciatica pain. Anyone on the fence about seeking sciatica treatment in Denver should consider how they can benefit from treating their sciatic pain. One of the primary benefits of working with a professional is that they can help you get out of sciatic nerve pain as quickly as possible. A facility with a diverse medical team can also discuss a wide range of treatment options with you, which is much better than relying on your own research.
There are a number of treatments that have been used to help manage sciatica, ranging from massage to acupuncture to chiropractic care. It’s a good idea to look for a facility that has experience with a wide variety of different therapies, as everyone’s body is different and there’s no way to predict what will work for you. Your doctor can help design a unique treatment plan to target your individualized needs and take your recovery goals into account.
Another reason to seek treatment for sciatica is that it usually has multiple causes. Sciatic pain is caused by a pinched sciatic nerve, but the reason for the pinching varies. Herniated disks are one of the main causes, though overgrowths of bone known as bone spurs can also affect the nerve. In rare cases, the pressure on the nerve can be caused by a tumor, which is why it’s important to have your back pain evaluated.
What is sciatica?
Though it is a common condition, many people aren’t familiar with sciatica. Sciatica refers to any pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve begins near your lower back and travels through your hips and buttocks, as well as down each of your legs. In most instances, those with sciatica experience pain only on one side of the body. Usually, nonoperative treatments are sufficient, but severe sciatica can sometimes require surgical intervention.
If you’re on the fence about seeing a doctor, there are some signs that indicate you should see a professional. Mild pain can ease on its own, but if self-care isn’t helping or if the pain persists for longer than a week, you should call your medical provider. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience sudden pain and numbness in your low back or leg or have trouble controlling your bowels or bladder. Any sciatic pain sustained after a violent injury, like a traffic accident, should also be treated as an emergency.
Anyone experiencing sciatica symptoms that last longer than a week or that cause more than just mild pain should set up an appointment with a doctor as soon as they can. It’s better to find out that the source of your sciatic pain is something benign than risk missing the opportunity to catch serious medical issues like tumors as early as possible. In most cases, your treatment plan won’t require surgery or operative treatment, but in rare cases where bodily functions are affected, surgery may be recommended. No matter what the cause of your sciatica is, there’s no reason not to get a professional medical opinion.
