Sciatic Pain & Hip Pain, Plano Chiropractor Dr. Khayal Treats This Painful Combination

Hip Joint Dysfunction and Sciatica are two physical impairments that will stop you from functioning. This combination can be successfully treated with chiropractic care. 

As a chiropractor here in the Plano, TX area, I find more and more patients dealing with this debilitating combination of joint dysfunction in the hips which can lead to mechanical lower back pain causing nerve impingement of the sciatic nerve.  Once this happens, your ability to stand, walk, or run comes to a screeching halt.
 The anatomical design of your pelvis and hips are truly a work of art.  Without optimum postural alignment and muscle balance you would not be able to walk, sit correctly, or perform countless other movements if your hips and surrounding musculature do not fit together properly.  To understand the problems that can arise, you first need to recognize signs that may indicate you have joint dysfunction in your pelvic area. 

Do you have continuous pain or weakness in your leg, knee, hip, buttock or lower back?
Do you feel occasional numbing or tingling sensations in your lower back when you walk that causes brief pain or sudden lack of mobility? 
Is one of your legs shorter than the other?
Do you hear a clicking in your leg joints when you walk?
Have you been told your feet angle in or out?
 
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it is time to see your chiropractor to check your hips and spine.

When a patient comes to me complaining of any of the above issues I will perform an initial exam of the spine and posture using manual muscle testing, a full body x-ray, a digital foot scan, and possibly an MRI to determine the correct diagnosis.  These tests will reveal any misalignment in the joints in your pelvic area and equally important, if there is a subluxation (a locking or jamming of the nerves and discs) in your spine. 

Hip imbalance can be a major contributing factor to vertebral subluxation which in turn can create distortions in the spine, compressing nerves that can lead to sciatica. 

Sciatic Pain
There are many conditions that cause this type of pain, but most notably is misalignment of the spine.  If this occurs, compression of the disc can cause inflammation on your sciatic nerve which can be one of the most painful conditions you will possibly experience during your life.  This nerve begins at the spinal cord and runs down the length of your leg to your toes.  Patients that I've diagnosed describe various painful conditions such as burning, tingling, pins and needles, numbing, or crawling sensations, starting from their lower back to one or both legs including the hips. 

Other Causes of Leg Pain
If you've been fortunate enough to not deal with sciatica, there are other painful conditions you may need your chiropractor to treat you for. Most notably, Neurogenic Claudication (NC) which is a nerve condition that causes cramping, aching, and fatigue in the legs, thighs, buttocks, and hips, but is usually found in the calf.  This type of pain can be persistent and impede your ability to walk or stand for long periods of time.  In some severe cases surgery has been necessary but studies have found that chiropractic care will alleviate this problem if handled correctly.

Chiropractic Solutions
Once it's determined as to the root cause of the patient's pain, I create a treatment program that can consist of spinal decompression, cold laser therapy, therapeutic massage, hot and cold therapy, electro muscle stimulation, exercise, rest, foot orthotics and gentle stretching.  Any combination of these services can help my patient return to optimal health in a short amount of time.  Once they've regained their health I educate them on preventative routines they should incorporate to avoid a recurrence of this crisis from happening again anytime soon. 

Conclusion
I believe strongly, that any family's healthcare routine should incorporate semi-annual chiropractic checkups. Seniors, adults, and children should receive a physical check up beyond that of their family physician.  There are some distinctive differences between my focus and that of the family doctor as it applies to the overall health of our patients but I believe a combination of both medical and chiropractic services will ensure that your family always receives the best care possible.

For more information about sciatic pain, spinal decompression, and other treatments I offer please visit www.premierhealthclinic.net or contact me personally at 972-713-9355. If you live in Plano, Dallas, Frisco, Richardson, McKinney, Addison, Please be sure to mention that you read this article and get a great discount of 50% off your initial consultation and exam.  I thank you and your back will thank you.  Dr. H. Khayal, DC