Have you ever experienced knee pain during your sciatica flare-ups? You might think the two conditions are unrelated, but there is definitely a connection between them. As you may know, sciatica is a condition caused by compression of your sciatic nerve. This is the biggest nerve in the body, running from your lower back through your hips and buttocks down each leg. Unfortunately, many patients of upper cervical care in Bend are unaware that the sciatic nerve is the same nerve that connects directly to various muscles in your knees and other joints throughout your body.
Sciatic nerve compression usually happens due to spinal disc herniation or the presence of bone spurs on the spine. This can result in pain and inflammation that travels and radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve down your legs to your feet. As a result, you may experience numbness, tingling, or burning sensations along the sciatic nerve path.
Your sciatic nerve splits into two when it reaches your knee, including the common peroneal nerve that runs from the outer part of your knee to the outer part of your foot. This is likely why you can also experience symptoms in your knee, including the following:
Sciatica may be known to originate from the lower back, but did you know that it can also develop from a neck issue? Some patients of upper cervical care in Bend are usually surprised to learn about this when they get their sciatic nerve issues sorted out.
Your upper cervical spine, where the topmost bones of your spine are located, is highly susceptible to misalignment. This is due to several reasons, including head or neck trauma, repetitive stress on the neck area, and whiplash. This misalignment is referred to as cervical subluxation or upper cervical misalignment.
The upper cervical bones also support the weight of your head, and if they’re misaligned, the rest of your spine has to adjust to keep your head straight. This can affect several structures such as your sciatic nerve and the hip joints and muscles. Therefore, correcting the misalignment is necessary to restore the alignment and balance in the spine and relieve the surrounding parts from unnecessary pressure.
Restoring the balance and alignment of your spine can be done gently and safely with the help of an upper cervical chiropractic doctor. They are trained in identifying subluxations occurring at C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebrae, the top two bones of your spine located in the neck area, and utilizing precise diagnostic tools such as X-rays and other measuring tools for detecting subtle or severe vertebral bone misalignments affecting nerves.
By correcting the upper cervical spine’s alignment, the rest of the bones will follow the proper alignment set, and the surrounding parts, even those associated with sciatica-related knee pain, can be relieved from pressure and start to heal again slowly.
Utilizing gentle correcting techniques explicitly designed for restoring proper alignment at these two vertebrae helps reduce tension on nerves allowing them to heal naturally without needing medications or surgical interventions.
If you are experiencing bouts of sciatica with knee pain that doesn’t seem to get better despite rest and other home remedies, you can visit our office for a consultation. Make sure you book your appointment ahead of your visit by filling out our online form.
So if you’ve been suffering from any chronic problem related directly or indirectly to your upper cervical spine, we suggest giving upper cervical care a try and finding out how we can help you get permanent relief naturally!
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hallmeyer, call our Bend office at 541-848-6834. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
