Sciatica Foot Pain
When your spinal health becomes compromised, the vertebrae in the lower lumbar can compress and lead to a herniated disc. This herniation causes inflammation that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Depending on the severity of the pressure, the pain felt from this pinched nerve may cause sciatica pain to radiate down your leg and into the foot. Specifically, compression of the S1 nerve root can cause pain along the outer side of your foot.
How Sciatica Leads To Foot Pain
You may be experiencing foot pain for a variety of reasons. There are obvious superficial sources of pain, like plantar warts or muscle strains. We deal with spinal conditions in the lower back, as well as bone misalignments, causing acute and immobilizing pain. Foot pain that originates from pinched nerves in the spine is a symptom of a more serious issue. You may be suffering from a form of spinal stenosis or sciatica that has gone undiagnosed and will continue to worsen if you don’t start treatment.
Foot pain can seriously diminish your quality of life and limit your mobility. Even the most routine tasks such as walking or keeping your balance can become a challenge. Specialized therapy is required to relieve the pressure being placed on the discs. Once they have the opportunity to heal, they will stop pinching the nearby nerves and relieve you of your pain.
Conditions in the spine that can cause foot pain are as follows:
- Herniated disc (lower back): discs in the spinal cord protrude from their correct position and apply outward pressure on the nearby nerves
- Degenerative disc disease: Age-related changes causing narrowing and shrinkage of the discs in the lower back
- Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the openings for spinal nerves and/or the spinal cord
If there are no issues surrounding the health of your spine and nerves, the issue could be rooted in the foot or ankle. An experienced chiropractor can help realign the structure of the foot to enable its proper function. It’s important to consult with a professional who can properly diagnose your foot condition and recommend appropriate therapy.
Using Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression To Treat Foot Pain
If you’re unsure what’s causing your foot pain, you should consult with the specialists at West Texas Neck and Back for an expert diagnosis. We can precisely locate the source of your pain and using spinal decompression, we can isolate and target the exact problem area for highly efficient results. If you would like to learn more about foot pain and the therapy options available to you, call or book a consultation online today!