Sciatica – What You Need To Know

The condition known as sciatica can be confusing for the fact that it’s really a series of symptoms resulting from one underlying cause.  When many patients come to know the effects of sciatic, they have some difficulty finding relief for the fact that they are treating the symptoms instead of addressing the source of their discomfort.

Aptly named, sciatica is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. Symptoms take the shape of pain, tingling, burning and numbness that affects the toes, feet, and legs. The effects can be aggravated through sudden or abrupt movement, or when sitting or standing for excessive periods.

If you’re seeking genuine relief of these symptoms, there’s no better time to come in for an appointment.  Chiropractic care can relieve sciatica by getting to the source of the discomfort: nerve pressure. Through spinal adjustment, subluxations and misalignments that are causing nerve pressure can be corrected.  Therapeutic exercises and temperature based therapy can also provide effective and natural relief of sciatic discomfort.

Sources:

 http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=3212

http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=3127

http://www.livestrong.com/article/265787-chiropractic-sciatica/

The Immune System and Chiropractic

This year’s cold and flu season making headlines as one of the worst in decades, it’s a good time to talk about what the immune system means for our health, and what chiropractic care means for the immune system. As most of you know, chiropractic specifically focuses on the nervous system. What fewer people know is how the nervous system affects our body’s ability to maintain proper immune function.
Here’s an overview of how it works:

Chiropractic corrects spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations. Vertebral subluxations cause interference of the nervous system by placing pressure on nerves. Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body, including the immune system, chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function.

During an immune response, the brain and the immune system “talk to each other” and this process is essential for maintaining homeostasis, i.e. balance in the body. If the nervous system is not functioning properly, then the immune system cannot function at 100%, thus the body becomes fertile ground for bacteria, viruses and illness, like influenza.

-          Dr. David Thomson