4 Reasons Why Your Sciatica Pain Keeps Returning

Nerves transmit information back and forth to your brain in a complex network that stretches throughout your body. Your sciatic nerve is both the largest and longest nerve you have, extending from the lower part of your back all the way down your legs. This massive nerve is what connects your lower body to your central nervous system.

This affects sensation throughout your lower body, down to your toes. Lower back problems like sciatica can occur along this nerve and can strike anywhere from the lower back downward. Often it happens acutely, causing discomfort that resolves over time. But it can become a chronic problem, and how we treat it can depend on what causes this to happen.

Corey Skinner, DC, and our medical staff at Action Chiropractic Dallas help residents of the Dallas, Texas, area with many types of back problems, including pain from conditions like sciatica.

Sciatica facts

Damage to or inflammation of your sciatic nerve is a common problem in the lower back of adults, and may come in the form of direct effect on the nerve (true sciatica), or problems in areas near the sciatic nerve that cause similar signs (sciatica-like symptoms). 

Pinching, pressure, or irritation of this nerve can result from conditions such as:

• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Foraminal stenosis
• Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Spinal stenosis
• Pregnancy
• Tumors
• Spondylolisthesis

Other risk factors include weak core muscles, excess weight, poor posture, physical inactivity, back muscle strain, and tobacco use.

Causes of sciatica relapses

The recurrence of sciatica in people who have suffered from it in the past is not uncommon, and when it does happen, these are some of the reasons:

1. No changes in routine

If you get treated for sciatica but never make any changes to your day-to-day schedule, it only increases the chances of the problem coming back. This means performing tasks around the house or at work the same way, not making any efforts to protect your spine, or not exercising before doing something strenuous.

2. Overexercising

In an effort to help ease back pain and stay fit, it’s important to exercise, but doing too much only makes problems worse and causes sciatica to come back.

3. Lifting heavy objects

The strain that comes from lifting something heavy, especially if done improperly, can cause many problems, including herniated discs, pulled muscles, and relapse of problems like sciatica.

4. Inactivity

Not moving around enough weakens the back muscles and can also aggravate the sciatic nerve, so avoid sitting for long periods or sleeping too much. 

Options for treatment

To care for the pain and other symptoms of sciatica, we can offer

Chiropractic adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments are a combination of manual treatments designed to help restore your spine to its optimal position.

Spinal decompression therapy

Spinal decompression alleviates pain and pressure on your spine using a traction table to gently open up spaces in your spine to promote healing in the spinal discs.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can include one or several techniques to reduce pain and improve posture and function, including heat or ice therapy, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, stretches, exercises, and kinesio taping.

One or more of these methods may reduce the pain from sciatica you experience, and we customize the treatment to your specific needs. To find out which solution best manages your recurring sciatica pain, make an appointment online or by phone with Dr. Skinner at Action Chiropractic Dallas today.