Low Back Pain with Sciatica - The New "S" Word

Pain is one of the most debilitating factors in our health. It can be the obstacle that prevents us from moving toward our goals and stops us from enjoying life’s pleasures when it appears. One of the conditions that affects all ages, all genders, and most occupations is “Sciatica.” This is a word that we all hear, with many people experiencing it, yet not many knowing what treatment looks like, or how liberating it feels when it resolves.

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What Is Sciatica?
There are many nerves in the body. When your spouse says, “You are getting on my nerves,” they are not kidding; you can literally aggravate someone’s nerves so much that the nerve reacts, which causes pain or discomfort in the body. The longest nerve in the body is called the sciatic nerve. It starts in the lower back (L4) and continues behind the spine, passing through the buttocks, the back of the thigh, and into the lower leg, ending in the toes.

If you drop a pencil and go to pick it up and are met with a sharp pain electrifying down to the back of the thigh (which may or may not continue into the foot), then you know the full potential of the sciatic nerve when it is angry.

1. Calm down the nerve to resolve the pain.
2. Ensure we identify the cause and treat it effectively to prevent recurrence in the future.

Both goals are possible with the right dedication and commitment. If you start to notice pain that is dull, achy, throbbing, or sharp in the low back and radiating to the back of the knee, it can be an internal mechanism (such as a disc bulge) or something mechanical (such as a muscle flare-up). Either way, the sooner we pay attention to the pain, the better. Pain is a good indicator that dysfunction exists within the body. Remember, the goal of treatment is to resolve the pain and ensure this does not happen again.

We live in a world that is too busy—often hectic—with many different commitments on our plate. If we are stopped due to pain or an inability to complete the tasks we need to accomplish, the effects are more than just physical flare-ups.

It is my deep obligation to patient care and my respect for how constantly we are on the move that led me to design a treatment plan geared toward pain resolution and prevention. My treatment plan protocol for sciatica (pending patient candidacy) is proving effective for a return to work sooner than some patients anticipate.
 
Why Does It Matter to Resolve Pain Quickly?
​Optimal health allows us to achieve our goals. When pain exists, it becomes an obstacle blocking you from living as you would like to. I have seen too many beautiful spirits in patients become broken, and preventable secondary symptoms emerge, such as anxiety, depression, weight gain due to pain-related lack of mobility, and financial duress due to a non-working status.

If any of these symptoms describe you, give my treatment protocol a fighting chance. Come in with an open mind and a commitment to compliance with the treatment… and I can handle the rest.

-- Dr. Salma Mitha, DOMP, DC, SRISD, Cert. Office Ergo, Cert. Orthotics

Successful treatment means a return to Pre-Injury Status
with a strong intention to do so.