Condition we treat
Sciatica Care in Saco, ME
Sciatica is pain, numbness or tingling that starts in the lower back and travels down the leg. It happens when a sciatic nerve is compressed near where it leaves the spine. Dr. Reiche treats it without drugs or surgery.
Does this sound like you?
The sciatic nerves are the largest in the body. They carry movement signals from the brain down to the legs and sensation back up again, which is why a problem at the spine is felt so far away from it.
- Pain, numbness or tingling running down the leg, sometimes into the foot
- Weakness in the leg — drop foot, or trouble lifting the toes
- Muscle spasms and pain in the lower back
- Pain that changes with the time of day, your position, even your stress level
- Everyday jobs and work tasks becoming harder to manage
What causes sciatica
Sciatica is a syndrome that develops when one or both of the sciatic nerves become compressed near where they exit the spinal cord in the lower spine.
Usually that compression happens because a nearby spinal disc bulges or herniates — tears and leaks — against the nerve root, causing irritation and inflammation. It can also happen when the bony space around the joint gets smaller through degenerative changes such as stenosis or spondylosis.
What raises your risk
Anyone can develop sciatica, but it is more common in people with certain risk factors:
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Older age
- Physically demanding work — nursing, policing, construction
- A traumatic accident such as a fall, a sports injury or a car crash
- Obesity
How we treat sciatica
Our Saco chiropractic team works with holistic, non-invasive techniques. Which of these Dr. Reiche recommends depends on what your examination shows.
Chiropractic adjustments
Decrease pain signaling in the nervous system and improve spinal alignment.
Spinal decompression
A non-invasive technique to decompress sciatic nerve roots and restore spinal disc health and alignment.
Corrective exercises
Customized movements that can improve spinal stability and help prevent recurring issues.
Sciatica questions we hear most
What does sciatica actually feel like?
Most people describe pain, numbness or tingling running from the lower back down the leg, sometimes as far as the foot. It can come with weakness in the leg, muscle spasms in the lower back, and pain that shifts with your position, the time of day or your stress level.
Why does a problem in my back cause pain in my leg?
The sciatic nerves carry signals between the brain and the legs. When a nerve root is compressed where it leaves the spine — usually by a bulging or herniated disc, or by degenerative narrowing such as stenosis or spondylosis — the symptoms show up along the path of the nerve rather than at the spine itself.
Who tends to get sciatica?
Anyone can develop it. It is more common with a sedentary lifestyle, with older age, in physically demanding jobs such as nursing, policing or construction, after a fall, sports injury or car crash, and in people carrying excess weight.
Is treatment surgical?
No. The techniques used here are holistic and non-invasive: chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, and corrective exercises and stretches chosen for you.
How do I get started?
Call the practice on +1 (207) 571-8028 or book an appointment. Your first visit includes an examination, so Dr. Reiche can see what is behind your symptoms before recommending anything. We are at 331 North St Unit 102, Saco.
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