More sitting at the desk, on the couch and in the car can flare sciatica once it gets cold. What helps and what your first visit at Meylor includes.
TL;DR
- Once the weather turns cold, most of us sit more: longer days at the desk, more evenings on the couch, and more time in the car.
- Long stretches of sitting can irritate the low back and the sciatic nerve, which shows up as pain, tingling or numbness from the low back or buttock down the leg.
- Getting up every 30 to 45 minutes, setting up your chair and car seat well, and staying active indoors all help.
- At Meylor Chiropractic & Acupuncture, your first exam visit includes a health history review, a full chiropractic exam, and X-rays and neurologic assessments when they are needed. We have after-work appointments from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, Monday through Thursday.
Summer in Lenexa keeps people moving. There are evening walks, yard work and kids' games every weekend. Then November hits, the sun sets before dinner, and most of that movement turns into sitting. Sitting at a desk all day, then on the couch all evening, then in the car on the weekend.
If you've dealt with sciatica before, this is often when it comes back. Here is why, what you can do about it at home, and what to expect when you come see Dr. Jade Meylor.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve, from the low back through the buttock and down the back of the leg, sometimes into the foot. It can feel sharp, burning or achy, and it often comes with tingling, numbness or weakness in the leg.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It starts in the lumbar spine and travels through the buttock and down the leg. When something puts pressure on it or irritates it, you feel it along that path.
Common causes include disc injuries and bulges that press on the nerve root, as well as spinal misalignments tied to posture, pregnancy or an injury. Many people feel it come on suddenly, like when they bend to pick something up, even though the problem has been building for a while.
Why Does Sciatica Flare Up When It Gets Cold?
Sciatica tends to flare in colder months because most people sit more and move less. Long periods of sitting keep your hips bent and put steady load on the discs and joints of your low back. With less walking and activity to balance it out, an irritated area has more chances to flare.
At the desk
Fall and winter often bring busier stretches at work, and fewer people take a walk at lunch when it's 35 degrees out. Eight hours in a chair with few breaks is hard on a back that is already sensitive.
On the couch
Darker evenings mean more time on the couch. Slouching into soft cushions, sitting with one leg tucked under you, or lying propped on an armrest can all leave your low back and hips in awkward positions for hours.
In the car
Holiday travel adds long drives, and cold mornings mean sitting in the car while it warms up. Driving keeps your right leg working the pedals while your hips stay bent. A wallet in your back pocket can tilt your pelvis the entire drive.
Bracing against the cold
People tend to tense up when they're cold. Stiff muscles and quick, careful movements on icy steps can add strain to an already irritated low back.
What Can I Do at Home to Keep Sciatica From Flaring?
You can't avoid sitting entirely, but you can change how you do it.
- Get up every 30 to 45 minutes. Stand, walk to refill your water, or do a lap of the office. Short breaks add up.
- Set up your desk. Keep your feet flat, your hips slightly higher than your knees, and your screen at eye level. Our post on desk posture has more ideas.
- Choose firmer seats at home. A firm chair is often easier on sciatica than a deep, soft couch.
- Empty your back pockets before you drive or sit for a long time.
- Stay active indoors. Walking at a mall, a treadmill or a short routine at home keeps you moving when it's too cold outside.
- Warm up before you shovel or lift. Move around for a few minutes first, bend at the hips and knees, and keep loads close to your body.
If your pain keeps returning, or it starts to spread further down the leg, it is time to get it checked.
How Can a Sciatica Chiropractor in Lenexa Help?
A chiropractor helps sciatica by finding what is irritating the nerve and treating that cause, rather than only the pain. At Meylor Chiropractic & Acupuncture, Dr. Meylor starts with a full evaluation, then builds a plan that usually includes gentle adjustments to help your spine move and line up the way it should.
How quickly you respond depends on the condition of the disc or joints involved and how long the problem has been going on. Our sciatica treatment page explains our approach in more detail, and if a disc is involved, our disc injury page covers that too.
Our team also offers acupuncture, and some patients use it alongside chiropractic care. Dr. Meylor will tell you if he thinks it fits your plan.
One of our patients, Daniel, came to us on a doctor's referral with an inflamed sciatic nerve. In his Google review, he wrote that the rehab process was slow and took months, but that the small daily improvements helped him build other healthy habits along the way. Recovery looks different for everyone, and we will be honest with you about what to expect.
What Does the First Visit Include?
Your first visit is about finding the cause before anyone starts treatment. Here is how it works.
Start with a free consultation if you want
If you'd like to meet Dr. Meylor before committing to anything, start with our free consultation. It's a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Jade Meylor that includes a review of your health history and concerns, an overview of chiropractic and acupuncture options, and answers to your questions about treatment, insurance or pricing. The consultation does not include exams, X-rays or treatment. If you need further evaluation, we'll tell you the costs and options before we go ahead.
The comprehensive exam visit
At your comprehensive visit, we review your health history, do a full chiropractic examination, and perform any necessary X-rays and neurologic assessments. For sciatica, the goal is to figure out which structures are involved and what is irritating the nerve. Dr. Meylor then talks through what he found and builds a personalized care plan for you.
Starting care
Once you have a plan, care usually begins with regular chiropractic adjustments and the holistic care that fits your situation.
Who Is Dr. Jade Meylor?
Dr. Jade Meylor, D.C., FSBT, is a Sioux City, Iowa native who earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. He has continued his training through postgraduate programs, including acupuncture and sports injury seminars, and is licensed in both Kansas and Missouri. Chiropractic runs in his family, with over 40 chiropractors in his extended family. Meylor Chiropractic has served Lenexa since 2005.
Do You Take Insurance, and What Does It Cost?
Yes, we accept insurance. Call us to confirm your plan. Our team will be clear about pricing so you know what to expect before you're in the chair, and you can ask about insurance or pricing during your free consultation. You can also review our Good Faith Estimate information.
Can I Get an Evening Appointment?
Yes. We keep an afternoon-into-evening block from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, so you can come in after work or school without taking time off. We also hold same-day openings every day we're open, and walk-ins are welcome. Learn more about our evening appointments.
When Should Sciatica Be Checked Right Away?
Some symptoms need emergency care, not a chiropractic visit. Go to the ER if you have loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, leg weakness that is getting worse quickly, or severe pain after a fall or car accident.
Visit Meylor Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Meylor Chiropractic & Acupuncture
12980 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66215
(913) 227-0909
Hours
Monday through Thursday: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Friday through Sunday: Closed
We see patients from Lenexa, Overland Park, Shawnee, Olathe, Leawood and nearby areas.
If your back pain started on the job, read our post on work injury chiropractic in Lenexa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sitting too much cause sciatica?
Long periods of sitting can irritate the low back and add pressure on the discs, which can aggravate sciatica, especially if you already have a disc or alignment problem. Regular movement breaks help.
What does the first visit include?
Your comprehensive visit includes a health history review, a full chiropractic exam, and any necessary X-rays and neurologic assessments. Dr. Meylor then explains his findings and builds a personalized plan.
Is the free consultation really free?
Yes. The free consultation is a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Meylor. It does not include exams, X-rays or treatment. If you need more, we'll explain the costs and options first.
Do you take insurance?
Yes, we accept insurance. Call our office at (913) 227-0909 to confirm your plan.
Do you offer evening appointments?
Yes. We have an after-work block from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. We're closed Friday through Sunday.
Can I get in the same day?
Yes. We keep same-day openings every day we're open. Call, book online or walk in.