Sciatica is a kind of back pain caused by a problem in the sciatic nerve. It can cause severe pain in the lower back which can spread to the hip, buttocks, and leg. Sounds painful, right? Well, to come up with the solution we are presenting an argument of is massage or chiropractor better for sciatica.
There are many ways to heal or at least minimize sciatic pain. Massage therapy is well known to be a very effective yet chemical-free solution to the problem. Some people consider appointing a chiropractor to alleviate this unbearing pain. Chiropractic treatments have been proven to be working really great on sciatica, plus it doesn’t involve any invasive process or medication to heal.
Both being a great solution for sciatica, choosing only one of them can be a little tricky. Read until the end to find out which one is more suitable for you—
Is Massage Or Chiropractor Better For Sciatica
The Sciatic Nerve is very closely related to muscles. That is a crucial reason why massage therapy works so well. Now, what Massaging does is dives deep into the muscles, and ensures blood circulation in those areas. Usual massage or other activities don’t reach the tightened muscles deep inside so a good option can be a massage.
Because of that, they might offer relief for the time being, the actual sciatica doesn’t heal. Now we must warn you, it’s probably gonna hurt even when you are receiving a deep tissue massage. But over time it loosens the muscles and other areas that are in pain and accelerates the healing process.
The chiropractor doesn’t focus heavily on reaching the tissue depth. Rather, it focuses on the joints, muscles and bones. It uses Short yet sharp movements to move your muscles and joints in different directions to remove the stiffness and the pain along with it. It’s not normally too painful, but you feel a bit uncomfortable. To determine is massage or chiropractor better for sciatica we will be seeing the benefits and drawbacks of them.
Benefits Of Massage
Massage is intimidating. Whether you visit a spa or a hotel, the spa catalogue attracts a lot of attention. These are benefits that massage offers are:
1. Better Workout Routine
Massaging releases tightened muscles and increases your “range of motion”, which means you can mode more efficiently, burn calories faster and workout better. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy lifestyle, massage can most definitely lend a hand.
2. Better Mental Health
Even though some people find it painful, deep tissue massage can be very therapeutic. You will likely feel very refreshed after you receive the message. It lowers levels of stress hormones and increases the flow of dopamine, serotonin and endorphins (these are the hormones responsible for positive emotions).
3. During Pregnancy
It’s also a message that can help loosen tight muscles during pregnancy. It increases cortisol which helps women reduce depression, anxiety, and negative emotions. Some research has already suggested the women who take massages at regular intervals had less pain compared to the ones who didn’t.
Drawbacks Of Massage
Despite all the good stuff, massage has its drawbacks. But that does not make chiropractor better for sciatica. They are:
1. New Injuries
If you have any kind of injuries in your body, massage is a huge no. In such a scenario this can cause new injuries, nerve lesions and increase the existing injuries.
2. Costly
A proper massage can cost around 5000 dollars. Frankly, that’s an amount a lot of us can’t afford for something that is therapeutic but might not be a long-lasting solution in certainty. On average, every session of massage can cost from 90 to 150 dollars. On an hourly basis, massage can cost about 50 dollars to at most 200 dollars for every hour of service
3. Chronic Pain
If you have the problem of pain echo, deep tissue massage will amplify your pain instead of reducing it. And this is maybe the last thing you want from the procedure.
In order to avoid the drawbacks of massages, you should try to follow the proper steps of a massage with a good quality massage gun. Speaking of good quality massage guns, the TOLOCO Upgrade Percussion Muscle Massage Gun is working pretty great for me, you can try it too!
Benefits Of Chiropractor
The chiropractor is quite unknown to a lot of people. So we will see the benefits of this before we compare. The benefits include:
1. Heaven For Osteoarthritis Patients
It’s known as the go-to treatment for Osteoarthritis, otherwise known as degenerative joint disease. It relieves muscle tension and ensures better blood circulation, which goes a long way in reversing Osteoarthritis symptoms.
2. Better Mindset Towards Life
Just like Massage, a Chiropractor also helps in reducing stress hormones, increases the flow of serotonin and makes life more enjoyable for you. It is also assumed by many that this therapy helps you positively regulating your life.
Drawbacks Of Chiropractor
Everything in this world comes with a drawback. A chiropractor is the same as well. The drawbacks include:
1. Experience Is Vital
Since the process is strongly affiliated with your joints and muscles, please make sure that your chiropractor is registered and well-trained. One wrong move can end up amplifying your pain, or worse, inflicting fatal injuries.
2. Careful During Pregnancy
The process itself is harmful to pregnant women, make sure that the process any uncomfortable situation (such as pressure on the abdominal area, massage being too stiff and aggressive) does result in fatalities.
Our Verdict
What we can and will tell you about is chiropractor or massage better for sciatica is summarized by the old proverb – “Look before you leap”. The first thing you need to do is make sure that any of the massages will not adversely affect your body in any way. Consult with your doctor, get tests done, do what it takes. Sometimes, keeping the cost into consideration, taking medicines can be a more affordable and more effective option.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the massage systems are significantly different from one another, there are still some common questions asked in both cases. So here some myths and common questions in the battle of is massage or chiropractor better for sciatica:
Where do I apply to massage?
-The common places where massage is applied are the elbow, forearm, knuckles, thumbs, shoulders etc., whereas chiropractor is done in joints and muscles mainly.
Do massages detoxify my body?
-No, it doesn’t. These might burn your calories, make you feel great, but getting rid of toxins is still a far-fetched thought.
Does massage hurt a lot?
-Massages can be a bit painful to some people, and to some people, it might feel like nothing at all. It all depends on your body’s tolerance towards pressure. But the pressure will not be to a point where bruises will show up, that is for sure. But if you feel like your joints are hurting too much, tell the chiropractor immediately.
Does massage spread cancer cells in the whole body?
-There hasn’t been any scientific evidence of deep tissue massages spreading cancer cells from one part of the body to another. Metastasis is kind of a natural process that occurs spontaneously in multiple organs if you have certain types of carcinoma, but there is no relation with deep tissue massages.
Are there any chances of miscarriage after a massage?
-It is quite the opposite in both cases. Just be careful during the massage session and everything will be okay
Conclusion
Whichever one you choose, massage or Chiropractor, it isn’t going to heal your sciatica overnight. But they are most definitely a relief from the pain. They both have their good side, and sides that are not particularly suitable for everyone. Lastly, do what brings you relief. There is no battle of is massage or chiropractor better for sciatica.
If a message is your way of freshening up your mind and tackling the whole world, just make sure your body is up for it. If a Chiropractor is a good idea to give the joints a boost, then just go for it. Lie down on the massage bed, and enjoy! So, is massage or chiropractor better for sciatica? You decide! Stay safe!