Car Accident
In October of this year, it will be 14 years since I had a car accident. I came out of that accident safe and free from major injuries. I was under the care of a chiropractor for almost a year to help me get better. I regularly visited his office for treatments. My least favorite part of the treatment was when the chiropractor starts cracking my neck. Cracking of the neck was a way to re-adjust my spine and to relieve pressure as well. Other than the noise it makes when he cracked my neck, it was indeed a very effective treatment.
X-Ray Result
On one of my visits at his office, my chiropractor showed me my lower back X-ray result and explained to me what was actually going on around my lower back area. He mentioned that due to the impact of my car accident to my lower back which he calls “herniated” disc, I could suffer from pain as I get older; he said that my disc was actually pushed out of the alignment, and that the change in my lower back spine alignment could cause irritation, pressure and pain.
Symptoms
I can say I was pain-free and symptom-free up to the day that I had my third baby back in 2008. The symptoms were tolerable and less frequent at first; some shooting pain that starts from my lower back and radiates down to my hip, buttock and leg area. I do have a high pain threshold, and most of the time, the pain would go away after one day of rest or two.
Progressively Worsening Symptoms
In March of this year, I have noticed the symptoms getting more frequent and intense. The pain that used to just bother me in one part of my body occasionally affects the right and left part of my lower body. There are times I find myself having a harder time getting up from a chair without feeling the pain. Now that I am in my late 30’s, I remember what my chiropractor had told me several years ago about herniated disc problem progressing as I get older. I don’t feel old, and I certainly don’t think being in my 30s is old age. So, what gives?
Triggers
I had to do further research about what is going on with me and put together my symptoms and my health history and came up with one word, sciatica. I talked to my doctor about it and given the fact that I had car accident years ago, and has a herniated disc, she said that what I am going through is indeed sciatic pain or sciatic attacks. There are several things that trigger my sciatic pain at the present moment, such as prolonged standing, bending, lifting and stress. Yes, stress. The kind of stress I experience on a daily basis is the physical stress of my profession. When my body feels stressed out, it then sends the signal to my brain and delivers it to my sciatic nerves, thus causing pain.
Non-Surgical Treatments
I am not a big fan of going under the knife. If it is not a life or death situation, I would prefer non-surgical procedures. My primary care physician and I both agreed to try the following treatments first and see if any of the treatments would help me with my sciatic pain.
1. Short bedrest*
2. Herbal medications
3. Massage Therapy
4. Acupuncture
5. Osteopathy
6. Chiropractic Therapy*
7. Supplements
8. Pain medications*
9. Exercise*
10. Physical Therapy
I have tried chiropractic treatment in the past, and it was effective. Unfortunately, chiropractic therapy is not covered under my present medical insurance. I am also currently doing some of the *treatments suggested above. I will try physical therapy and see if it helps my sciatic pain. If not, then I will continue my journey in finding the perfect treatment for my sciatica.
To your wellness!
