Macomb chiropractor says spinal thermal scan can help trace sciatica to its source

Bence Chiropractic Wellness Center in Macomb, Michigan, is using a spinal thermal scan to help identify where sciatica may be coming from before treating the pain itself. The practice says the approach is meant to find nerve irritation earlier, guide care, and help patients avoid prolonged symptoms.

Why it matters: - Sciatica can start as leg or foot pain, but the underlying problem may be higher up in the spine or pelvis. - Bence Chiropractic says finding the source early can shorten recovery and help patients avoid weeks or months of chasing symptoms. - Low back pain remains a major global health issue, with the World Health Organization projecting 843 million people affected by 2050.

What happened: - Bence Chiropractic Wellness Center in Macomb, Michigan, is using a spinal thermal scan called the Insight Subluxation Station to trace possible nerve irritation linked to sciatica. - Dr. Pavel Bence, DC, CCWP, says the goal is to identify what is irritating the nerve and treat the cause rather than chase the pain. - The practice released guidance on sciatica, back pain, emergency warning signs, and the clinic’s approach to care.

The details: - Sciatica is different from general back pain, even though the two often appear together. - The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and runs from the low back through the buttock and down the leg to the foot. - Herniated discs, degenerative changes, spinal stenosis, tight buttock muscles, and hip misalignment can all contribute to sciatic pain. - Dr. Bence describes three stages: pain in the buttock, pain reaching the knee, and pain reaching the foot. - He says pain that travels farther down the leg is harder to treat and takes longer to heal. - The Insight Subluxation Station rolls along the spine from the low back to the neck in about 20 to 30 seconds. - The device records skin temperature to a tenth of a degree Fahrenheit. - Matching left-right readings suggest a healthy spine; hot or cold spots can point to areas of nervous system stress. - The scan is used with posture checks, hands-on examination, and X-rays rather than as a diagnosis by itself. - The scan also includes the neck because posture and spinal function are linked from top to bottom. - Patients usually see the scan at the first visit and again after about 10 to 12 visits to track progress. - During a flare-up, the clinic recommends ice first to reduce swelling and pain. - Gentle range-of-motion stretching is added as soon as the patient can tolerate it. - Sitting puts more pressure on spinal discs than standing, according to Dr. Bence, who says movement is usually better than rest. - Care can include spinal and pelvic adjustments, flexion-distraction on a Cox table for disc-related cases, massage, and exercises between visits. - For a typical case, Dr. Bence starts with three visits a week for about three months. - If symptoms persist or begin severely, the clinic may look further, including MRI imaging to check for a bulging or herniated disc. - The same care model is used for lower back pain. - Emergency symptoms include loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or saddle area, rapidly worsening leg weakness, or major difficulty walking. - The clinic is at 46857 Garfield Rd. in Macomb and serves nearby communities including Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Clinton Township, Warren, and Utica. - Dr. Bence says he has more than 40 years of experience and is certified in trauma care, TMJ treatment, ADHD care, and spinal biomechanics. - The clinic offers visits in English, Serbo-Croatian, and Slovak. - New patients can get a $99 visit that includes a consultation, exam, findings, and X-rays if needed, with no referral required. - More information is available through the company website and its social channels on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The release frames sciatica as a symptom with multiple possible sources, not a standalone diagnosis. - The clinic is positioning thermal scanning as a way to make spinal stress visible before pain becomes more diffuse or severe. - The emphasis on motion, early evaluation, and imaging when needed suggests a stepped approach rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment plan.

What's next: - Patients with persistent leg pain or numbness may be evaluated with the scan, physical examination, and imaging if symptoms do not improve. - The clinic expects many typical cases to improve over roughly three months of frequent visits. - Patients with emergency warning signs should seek immediate medical care instead of waiting for a chiropractic appointment.

The bottom line: - Bence Chiropractic is betting that identifying the source of sciatic nerve irritation early can help patients treat the cause, not just the pain.