The sciatic nerve has been considered as the longest nerve in the body wherein it runs from the lower spine all the way down to both feet. The size and length of this nerve makes it vulnerable to sciatica in Vacaville wherein it may arise from certain circumstances depending on how it is irritated.

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You may be at risk for sciatica in Vacaville if you're suffering from the following:

• Degenerative Disc Disease - This general is used to describe the spinal discs' gradual weakening. The discs gradually lose its fluid as we age which then reduces its ability to absorb the shock our body takes. In most cases, tiny cracks will start to appear which can cause them to break into fragments. The proteins that are stored inside the discs will start leaking into the nerves and irritate them thus causing sciatica.
• Lumbar Herniated Disc - This condition happens when the fluids of the spinal disc start leaking out of its membrane. There are certain proteins found in these liquids and it can irritate the sciatic nerve which could lead to symptoms associated with sciatica.
• Piriformis Syndrome - Your piriformis muscle can be found in your buttocks and it is responsible for your balance and movement. Underneath it is where the sciatic nerve resides and when certain movements start to irritate it, you will develop sciatica.
• Isthmic Spondylolisthesis - This condition can happen when a vertebra in your spine slips forward over another. It will cause your sciatic nerve to be pinched due to the misalignment.
• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction - The sacroiliac joint is found at the bottom of the spine where it connects your pelvic bones. It is near your sciatic nerve and when there's unnatural movements, this area can become irritated and will cause sciatica.
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis - This is a condition where your spinal canal becomes narrow due to arthritis, enlarged facet joints, or soft tissue overgrowth. The decreasing space will put pressure on your nerves and will cause sciatica.

The ones listed above are some of the major conditions that causes sciatica. In addition to that, these other factors may cause it as well:

• Tumor - A very rare, cancerous tumor may cause sciatica since there's a possibility that it will grow on the sciatic nerve. Even certain cancer treatments can also have sciatica as one of its side effects.
• Muscle Injury - A strained muscle on the lower back can put pressure on the nerve root and can cause sciatic pain.
• Pregnancy - Women have sciatic nerves that runs under their uterus and down to their legs. During pregnancy, the nerve gets easily compressed due to the growing baby thus resulting in sciatica.
• Scar Tissue - This is also known as epidural fibrosis in which a scar tissue that forms somewhere near the nerve roots can cause lumbar nerve compression and may end up increasing your risk for sciatica.

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HOW CAN I AVOID SCIATICA?

When it comes to treating sciatica, exercises and home remedies can only do so much. The best way to properly repair the body is to nourish yourself with whole, healthy foods. Nutrition really plays an important role for your overall health so there's no doubt that following a comprehensive diet plan can improve your chances of recovering from sciatic pain. You can also visit clinics like Absolute Family Chiropractic if ever the pain becomes too severe to handle.

Focus on eating foods that are rich in B vitamins

The vitamin B family is important for your body's daily function because it promotes a healthy nervous system. When you're deficient of these vitamins, it can lead to the inefficient working of the transmitters and it can slow down the healing of your sciatic nerve. So, here are the B vitamins that you need to consume:

• Folate - This essential vitamin is crucial for the development of neurotransmitters. Vegetables contain good sources of folate and other vitamins so your best choices for this one is asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, and romaine lettuce.
• B6 - This is also known as pyridoxine wherein it is a vitamin that helps with the metabolism of the neurotransmitters in your body. The best food sources for vitamin B6 are bananas, fish, legumes, and grass-fed meat.
• B12 - This vitamin is important in maintaining the good health of myelin which is a fatty substance that is wrapped around the nerve fibers to speedup the communication between the neurotransmitters. To increase your vitamin B12 intake, make sure to eat pasture-raised chicken and eggs, grass-fed dairy products, and wild-caught fatty fish.

Anti-inflammatory foods that help decrease nerve pain

There are lots of foods that you can eat to reduce the swelling and pain and can be beneficial for your sciatica. Here are the top choices:

• Spices - There are some spices that contains antioxidants which can help in reducing inflammatory response. These anti-inflammatory spices include cloves, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric.
• Green Tea - The traditional Japanese matcha contains 17 times more antioxidants compared to wild blueberries, which is also a food that's rich in antioxidants.
• Fermented Vegetables - Prioritizing your gut health is important in boosting your immune system and warding off inflammation. You can consider foods like kimchi, miso, natto, pickles, and sauerkraut. Make sure to also add in fermented dairy products such as kefir and yogurt.
• Dark Leafy Greens - Vegetables that includes kale, spinach, collard greens, and Swiss chard contains antioxidants that can help fight off cellular damage.

When you're purchasing any of the vegetables mentioned above, it should be in organic form so that you can minimize the risk of consuming pesticides and other toxins. Your dairy products must come from healthy, grass-fed cows to ensure that you're only eating nutritious, high-quality foods. The cows that are raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) produces milk that contains antibiotics and other additives that can put your health at risk when consumed.

Add in some muscle-repair foods to your diet

There are cases that muscle problems can be the cause for your sciatica such as tight piriformis muscle. It would be best if you add in some foods that can help nourish and repair your muscles properly to prevent such injuries from happening in the future. These are the best choices:

• Tart Cherries - These small fruits can decrease muscle pain and inflammation.
• Nuts and Seeds - These 2 are a popular snack option wherein they contain omega-3 fatty acids that can fight off inflammation and has protein for muscle growth and synthesis.
• Wild-Caught Salmon - The best way to greatly increase your omega-3 intake is to eat wild-caught salmon. This fish has good amounts of lean protein for building your muscles.
• Pasture-Raised Eggs - Eggs contain a generous amount of protein to help strengthen and repair your muscles, as well as enhance energy production.

Keep in mind that you need to only consume a moderate amount of protein, preferably 1g of every kilogram of your lean body mass. It can help lower your risk of stimulating your mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which has a link to cancer when you're consuming excessive amounts of protein.

Mix and match foods for your diet

There are many foods presented on this article so it would be best if you come up with a diet plan that can reduce the overall inflammation while also building your muscle and nervous system health. If you have allergies to some of these foods, you should consult with a physician first to ensure your safety. After that, you can start preparing your healthy meals that can support your overall well-being.

For more tips on how to help subside your sciatica pain in Vacaville, call our team at Absolute Family Chiropractic at (707) 474-5688.