September 2016 Newsletter: Sciatic Pain; “Doc My Leg Hurts Can You Help Me?”
Sciatic Pain: “Doc My Leg Hurts Can You Help Me”by Dr. Sasha MarinaccioSciatica is a term we use to describe a symptom of pain radiating down through the hip, buttock and leg. This occurs when the sciatic nerve has been irritated. |
The sciatic nerve exits from the joints at the bottom of the spine (lumbar spine) and courses down each leg to the foot. Sciatic nerve irritation can come from multiple sources, most commonly: joint hypomobility, a disc herniation, arthritis or stenosis in the lumbar spine, as well as spasm of the piriformis muscle. We have many patients coming into our office seeking relief from sciatic pain, as Chiropractors are well trained in successfully treating this condition. Rarely, sciatic symptoms can be caused by a more serious condition, of which your Chiropractor is extremely knowledgeable in detecting through a thorough history and examination. If your doctor suspects a more serious problem, or you are unresponsive to care, he or she may send you for x-rays or other imaging to determine the cause and properly direct care. |
When our joints are not moving properly, they are unable to function properly. This can result in irritation and inflammation of the structures that run through a joint, and decrease our ability to move. Running through every joint of the spine we have nerves, blood vessels and lymphatic channels. When these structures are not able to work properly, this can cause pain and a decreased ability of the body to heal and function optimally. In the case of the sciatic nerve, pressure on the nerve can cause pain, numbness and tingling down the leg. Chiropractic works to restore normal motion of the surrounding joints to alleviate pressure from the nerve and promote the body’s natural healing ability. When we promote the health of the sciatic nerve, leg pain disappears! |
In addition to performing Chiropractic adjustments in the active care phase, your doctor may also recommend home therapy of heat or ice, anti-inflammatory supplements and diet, as well as gentle stretches and exercises to aid in healing. In more severe or recurrent cases of sciatica, your doctor may also recommend that you also work with a licensed massage therapist or physical therapist during the rehabilitativecare phase, as these therapies work beautifully alongside Chiropractic care to promote healing |
Once you have recovered from your sciatic painand are back to normal function, it is now the time to choose whether or not you’d like to continue in the wellness care phase. Wellness, or maintenance, Chiropractic care is an important piece of your regular health care routine; much like exercise, proper diet, adequate sleep and hydration, stress reduction and dental check-ups. Wellness care is used to periodically evaluate the spinal joints to keep them functioning at best—this keeps the nervous system working efficiently and may reduce the recurrence or severity of future injury. Every patient is different and every human body has different lifestyle stressors that it encounters on a daily basis. This is why you’ll work closely with your Chiropractor to determine the right frequency of care for you; one size does not fit all! |
It is important to understand the differencebetween active care, rehabilitative care and wellness care. As Chiropractic has become more “mainstream†in the healthcare field, in that most insurance networks now provide coverage, insurance companies have not placed value on maintenance care the way our patients do. Insurance is to be used for injuries; it is for treating active pain complaints and returning you to pre-injury status. Once you’ve made the decision to better your health with wellness care, your insurance will no longer be used. Rest assured, you and your doctor will work together to make a plan that works for you and your family’s needs. It is our goal to provide outstanding care to our patients and keep families full of health and vitality! |
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We will be introducing some new paperwork for all patients, in order to better comply with insurance standards for active and rehabilitative care (please refer to the above article for clarification). Your doctor will explain these short questionnaires and how they will be used to direct your care. Our goal is to help patients understand how their insurance works and to make these changes as easy as possible. If you have questions, please ask your Chiropractor! Please note: patient timeliness for scheduled appointments is crucial for our doctors to stay on schedule. Your time is important and our doctors do their very best to respect your time but also to provide the best care to every patient that walks through our doors. We can only do so with your help! No-call no-shows for appointments takes an opportunity away from another patient in need; please be respectful of others and if you cannot make your appointment, call the office immediately so we can open a slot for someone else. Dr. Marinaccio will be leaving the Aetna insurance network as of November 2016. If you are a current patient of hers with Aetna coverage, please speak with her to determine future care options as a cash patient. She will continue to accept new Aetna patients until that time. Thank you for your continued acceptance and support of our awesome Chiropractic interns! It is our pleasure to have them assisting us, and to guide and encourage the next generation of doctors. The office will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2016 in observance of Labor Day. However, Dr. Alaina will be available from 8-10:30 that morning for those in need. |
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Recipe Of The MonthChocolate Chip Paleo Zucchini BreadFrom wellplated.com INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS |
