Sciatica: A Pain in the Rear!

     What is sciatica? Sciatica gets its name from where the pain is located, in the back of the leg along the sciatic nerve. Many patients come to the office complaining about pain in their “butt muscle” or their hamstring feels tight. This pain can limit day to day activities.. Pain typically continues when left untreated, including a deep dull ache that never subsides. Tingling and burning can also occur nearby the location where the nerve is stuck. Click on the picture to watch a video and learn more.

Sciatica Symptoms

    Case study: Our approach to solve the problem.  Recently a patient came into the office complaining about pain traveling between her upper leg and knee. The pain had been progressively getting worse over the last month. Simple daily tasks such walking and climbing stairs were a painful challenge for her. The patient had tried physical therapy, however the exercise routine made the problem more noticeable. 

 Within our evaluation, we test the ability to bring the straight leg towards the hip. This patient was severely limited at 56 degrees: 90 degrees is normal. Not only was her range limited, but it provoked the complaint.

After ruling out other potential causes of the pain we were able to confirm adhesion along the nerve located at the back of the hip. At that point, we accurately diagnosed the problem as sciatica, caused by adhesion making the muscle stick to the nerve. The method of treatment to resolve this problem is Manual Adhesion Release (TM) twice weekly until the leg has a range of motion of 90 degrees. When the full range of motion goal is achieved, daily activities (and more) will no longer cause pain.

       Results. After a series of four treatments the patient was able to reach 90 degrees with the straight leg raise test and felt 80% better. The following week, the test maintained the results from the prior week and the patient shared she has returned to pain-free living and had increased activity without any setbacks. She was released from care and was excited to continue hiking and her studies.

       
Getting the diagnosis correct is important. You can have pain in your back and down your leg from others regions, including breaking down of discs in your back and your spinal cord narrowing.

    Conclusion: If you or someone you know is experiencing sciatica, which often feels like constantly tight hamstrings or the lack of ability to bend forward and touch the floor, you or they should be evaluated for sciatica. Book your appointment today or share this post with a friend who may be suffering.

Plantar Fasciitis Solution

Foot pain is a common ailment we see here at Rochester Spine + Sports Chiropractic. Often this starts as a not-so-innocent twinge while running or going up and down stairs. If left untreated, it can progress further to fear of stepping out of bed, knowing a stabbing pain is likely. Pain in the bottom of the foot is known as the medical condition plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a disorder of the insertion site of the ligament on the bone characterized by micro tears, breakdown of collagen, and scarring.

Plantar Fasciitis: Site of Pain

Scar tissue, also known as adhesion, is commonly misdiagnosed. It is a mechanical buildup of glue-like substances, medically known as collagen, in the muscles in your foot. Treatment designed to reduce adhesion* is the key element in alleviating the problem. Micro tears are common in people who repetitively overuse their feet. Daily demands that create overuse of your feet include raising children, running, and weight lifting. Although pain is felt on the bottom of your foot, this area may not be the only area affected. Another important area to have examined is the lower leg, where the larger muscles originate that travel through the foot and to the toes. Far too often I see cases where patients tried previous treatments that failed to resolve the problem. This is driven mainly due to the fact that the only site treated was the foot. Improper diagnosis and/or treatment allows for the problem to recur and potentially progress to changing the heel bone, which is also known as a heel spur.

Many people try resting, but often find the problem returning or never fully healing. Resting is difficult, as it is hard to avoid using your feet for long periods of time. Resting does not address the problem of adhesion*. The next attempt often includes trying over-the-counter or prescription medications for inflammation. Recent literature indicates inflammation is not the cause, therefore chemical anti-inflammatories are not the solution. People also try new shoes or foot orthotics. When foot orthotics are properly molded to match your foot, they help stabilize your arch. However, they do not address the adhesion*.

The good news is adhesion* is reversible! Dr. Matt Buffan at Rochester Spine + Sports Chiropractic is a certified expert at locating and fixing adhesion*. If you want to know how to resolve your plantar fasciitis, follow our three step process. 1.) Accurately diagnose the problem. 2.) Address the adhesion*. 3.) Support the foot for your daily activities. This process differs from other health practitioners, and is best in class for treating plantar fasciitis.

Most of Dr. Matt’s patients have seen multiple providers before coming to Rochester Spine + Sports Chiropractic. These patients have not received the care they need because adhesion* is one of the most misdiagnosed conditions. Adhesion* is a common issue in almost all people, and it needs to be treated by a certified professional. Part of the issue is the focus being on the site of the pain, and not seeking the site of origin of the pain. Dr. Matt is certified to manually fix conditions from head to toe. If necessary, once the adhesion* is cleared out, custom molded orthotics and or modifications, can be used to help balance the demands on the foot.

Can I run the course again? My feet feel fantastic!

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that can rob you of your ability to start your day with a smile. If this condition is stopping you from being able to walk, run, or get through the work day, give us a call or clickhere to schedule an appointment online.

*Adhesion is also known as scar tissue

Beeson P (September 2014). "Plantar fasciopathy: revisiting the risk factors". Foot and ankle surgery: official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons 20 (3): 160–5. doi:10.1016/j.fas.2014.03.003. PMID 25103701.

Lareau CR, Sawyer GA, Wang JH, DiGiovanni CW (June 2014). "Plantar and Medial Heel Pain: Diagnosis and Management". The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 22 (6): 372–80. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-22-06-372.PMID 24860133.