Chronic lower back pain often sabotages your plans for the day, making life difficult. Nerve compression in your lower back is especially disruptive.

With nerve compression, you feel sharp, shooting pain radiate from your lower back into your buttocks, legs, or feet.

Nerve compression makes you avoid activities that aggravate your symptoms. You may find yourself constantly shifting your position, unable to get comfortable. 

Chronic nerve compression is exhausting, and frustrating. But you don't have to struggle to manage your condition. 

Chiropractic and lifestyle changes can make your life enjoyable again.

What causes nerve compression?

Nerve compression occurs when a nerve root in your low back gets pinched or irritated.

This nerve root exits your spinal column and travels to other parts of your body. When it becomes compressed, it leads to pain and other symptoms along its pathway.

Which back conditions can cause nerve compression?

Spinal degeneration from aging, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis can cause nerve compression. 

Sciatica is also a form of nerve compression.

Your sciatic nerve connects your spinal cord to your lower leg and feet muscles. It also connects your hamstring to the outside of your thigh.

Desk jobs, binge watching, and long commutes can all cause sciatica by compressing your sciatic nerve.

What are the symptoms of nerve compression?

Nerve compression tends to manifest as sharp, shooting pain radiating from your lower back into your buttocks, legs, or feet. You might also experience:

• Tingling or numbness in the affected areas
• Muscle weakness in your legs or feet
• Difficulty standing or walking for long periods
• A constant need to avoid positions that trigger pain

Nerve compression symptoms can come from specific nerve roots.

Part of your diagnosis could be figuring out which nerve root is compressed. It could be your:

• L4 spinal nerve root: Exits just below the L4 vertebra and travels down your inner leg into your first toe
• L5 spinal nerve root: Exits just below the L5 vertebra and travels down your outer leg. This nerve root supplies sensation to your outer four toes
• S1 spinal nerve root: Exits through the first spinal foramina of your sacrum. This nerve joins your sciatic nerve and affects the buttock, thigh, and calf

How do chiropractors diagnose nerve compression?

Diagnosing nerve compression begins with taking a thorough patient history. We'll also likely conduct a series of orthopedic tests.

During your exam, we’ll assess your range of motion and perform tests to see if certain movements cause your symptoms.

By pinpointing positions that cause numbness, tingling, or pain, we figure out your symptom's source.

How does chiropractic help with nerve compression?

Our primary goal is to reduce pressure on your affected nerve. Your treatment may include:

• Spinal adjustments to relieve pressure on the compressed nerve and improve spinal alignment
• Therapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your spine and improve your flexibility
• Stretching and nerve gliding techniques to increase your mobility and reduce nerve irritation
• Lifestyle recommendations to help avoid positions and activities that make your symptoms worse

How long does it take for chiropractic to work on nerve compression?

Patients with consistent chiropractic care and lifestyle changes see improvement over several weeks.

The duration of your treatment will depend on the severity of your symptoms, and how long you’ve been experiencing them.

What is the best self-care for nerve compression?

Staying out of pain and healing means taking good care of yourself. Effective self-care for nerve compression includes:

• Posture awareness: Maintain a neutral spine and avoid positions that put pressure on your lower back
• Regular exercise: Engage in activities that strengthen your core and lower back muscles
• Proper ergonomics: Adjust your workspace to reduce strain on your back
• Healthy lifestyle choices: Ensure you get enough sleep, maintain a healthy weight, and focus on proper nutrition

Are you experiencing nerve pain in your lower back?

If you're dealing with nerve compression symptoms, we encourage you to visit our chiropractic office in Aptos. Schedule an online appointment today. With the right treatment plan, our highly-rated chiropractors can help reduce your pain and improve your quality of life.

Want to learn more about conditions affecting your lower back?

Read our blog post on chiropractic for common low back conditions.