Sciatica Chiropractic - A Chiropractor may help with your Sciatica

Q: What is sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg. The pain is usually felt on one side and may be sharp, burning, or accompanied by numbness.

Q: What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is often caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or a bone spur pressing on the nerve. It can also result from muscle tension, especially in the piriformis muscle. In some cases, it develops due to pregnancy or prolonged sitting with poor posture.

Q: What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Symptoms include sharp or burning pain radiating down the leg, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness. The pain often worsens with coughing, sneezing, or prolonged sitting. In severe cases, there may be difficulty moving the affected leg or foot.

Q: How is sciatica diagnosed?

Diagnosis involves a physical examination, medical history, and sometimes imaging tests like MRI or CT scans. A healthcare provider checks reflexes, muscle strength, and sensory responses to determine the severity and location of nerve involvement.

Q: Can sciatica go away on its own?

In many cases, mild sciatica resolves with rest, stretching, and gentle exercise. However, persistent or severe cases may require professional treatment such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, or targeted pain relief. If symptoms last more than a few weeks, seek medical advice.

Q: What treatments are available for sciatica?

Treatment may include manual therapy, spinal adjustments, exercise programs, anti-inflammatory medications, and heat or cold therapy. Severe or chronic cases might require injections or surgical options. Most people improve with conservative, non-surgical care.

Q: What can make sciatica worse?

Sciatica can be made worse by a herniated disc or arthritis which compresses the nerve. Heavy lifting or sitting for prolonged periods can also make the sciatica worse, sometimes simply coughing or sneezing can also flare up sciatica.

Q: Can sciatica be prevented?

Regular exercise, maintaining good posture, and strengthening core muscles can reduce the risk. Avoid heavy lifting without proper technique. If you sit for long periods, take breaks to stretch and move to keep pressure off the lower spine.

Q: What should you not do with sciatica?

If you have sciatica, you should ensure you’re not in a seated position for longer than 20 minutes at a time. You should also avoid lifting heavy objects and bending your back in an unnatural way. Putting any extra pressure on your back may worsen your symptoms.

Q: Is walking good for sciatica?

Yes, gentle walking can be beneficial. It promotes circulation, reduces inflammation, and helps keep the spine mobile. Avoid overdoing it or walking on uneven surfaces if pain worsens. Consistency and moderation are key for recovery.

Sciatica is a distracting pain that starts in the lower back and extends down into one or both legs. It tends to affect those in their forties and fifties. Five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form the sciatic nerves. These smaller nerves branch into the thigh, knee, calf, ankle, and foot. The sciatic nerves can become irritated through a number of factors. Sciatica itself is not a condition. In fact, it is a symptom of another condition. Sciatica originates from compression of the sciatic nerves which can occur from a number of things:

pregnancy
lumbar spine misalignment
direct pressure on the sciatic nerve
non-musculoskeletal disorders like diabetes and constipation
small activities like sitting uncomfortably on your wallet

Sciatica Pain Treatment Sciatica can also result from damage to the discs between the vertebra that make up your spine. These soft, pulpy discs can bulge, herniated or rupture if too much pressure is placed on them. This puts stress on nearby nerves, resulting in swelling, inflammation and pain. Once a disc has been damaged, pain symptoms of sciatica can appear on small actions, like coughing, sneezing or twisting. Pain usually worsens with long periods of sitting or standing, or with extended bed rest.

People can experience sciatica in a variety of symptoms, intensity and frequency. Commonly, sciatic pain includes achy, sharp pins and needles down the leg, with a sensation similar to electric shocks. Sciatic nerve pain can also involve numbness, burning and muscle weakness. Pain can last for a few hours, or last as long as weeks.

Sciatica: Underlying Problems

As there are many causes of sciatica, is it important to first identify what the underlying problem is. Treatment for sciatica must be tailored to address the root of the problem, or it will not be effective. Chiropractors are specially trained in assessing and identifying the source of sciatica. Investigation of underlying causes involves taking a full medical history, examination of the affected area, and occasionally x-rays or MRIs.

Chiropractors can then design a treatment plan based on the cause, symptoms and the history of the individual’s episodes. Sciatica treatment may involve soft tissue therapy to reduce any muscle inflammation or tension, and chiropractic adjustments to realign the vertebra and discs in the spine. Sciatica exercises can also be recommended, to improve the motion in the area, and to reduce painful symptoms.

Fortunately, sciatica often responds to safe, natural chiropractic care. Improving joint motion with a series of chiropractic adjustments has produced results for millions. Many patients report that they can resume their lives and their symptoms disappear without drugs and surgery. Santilli found in a double blinded clinical trial¹ that patients with sciatica from a disc protrusion had a high reduction in pain from spinal manipulation then mobilization.

Spine J. 2006 Mar-Apr;6(2):131-7. Epub 2006 Feb 3.Chiropractic manipulation in the treatment of acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion: a randomized double-blind clinical trial of active and simulated spinal manipulations. Santilli V, Beghi E, Finucci S.

Sciatica FAQs

A Pinched nerve in the lower back occurs when a nerve in lumbar spine becomes compressed. This occurs usually by a disc bulge or a bone spur from arthritis presses on the nerve. It may cause pain, numbness, weakness or pins and needles down the leg to the foot.


						
									What is sciatica?
					
						Sciatica refers to pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg. The pain is usually felt on one side and may be sharp, burning, or accompanied by numbness.
					
									What causes sciatica?
					
						Sciatica is often caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or a bone spur pressing on the nerve. It can also result from muscle tension, especially in the piriformis muscle. In some cases, it develops due to pregnancy or prolonged sitting with poor posture.
					
									What are the symptoms of sciatica?
					
						Symptoms include sharp or burning pain radiating down the leg, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness. The pain often worsens with coughing, sneezing, or prolonged sitting. In severe cases, there may be difficulty moving the affected leg or foot.
					
									How is sciatica diagnosed?
					
						Diagnosis involves a physical examination, medical history, and sometimes imaging tests like MRI or CT scans. A healthcare provider checks reflexes, muscle strength, and sensory responses to determine the severity and location of nerve involvement.
					
									Can sciatica go away on its own?
					
						In many cases, mild sciatica resolves with rest, stretching, and gentle exercise. However, persistent or severe cases may require professional treatment such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, or targeted pain relief. If symptoms last more than a few weeks, seek medical advice.
					
									What treatments are available for sciatica?
					
						Treatment may include manual therapy, spinal adjustments, exercise programs, anti-inflammatory medications, and heat or cold therapy. Severe or chronic cases might require injections or surgical options. Most people improve with conservative, non-surgical care.
					
									What can make sciatica worse?
					
						Sciatica can be made worse by a herniated disc or arthritis which compresses the nerve. Heavy lifting or sitting for prolonged periods can also make the sciatica worse, sometimes simply coughing or sneezing can also flare up sciatica. 
					
									Can sciatica be prevented?
					
						Regular exercise, maintaining good posture, and strengthening core muscles can reduce the risk. Avoid heavy lifting without proper technique. If you sit for long periods, take breaks to stretch and move to keep pressure off the lower spine.
					
									What should you not do with sciatica?
					
						If you have sciatica, you should ensure you’re not in a seated position for longer than 20 minutes at a time. You should also avoid lifting heavy objects and bending your back in an unnatural way. Putting any extra pressure on your back may worsen your symptoms.
					
									Is walking good for sciatica?
					
						Yes, gentle walking can be beneficial. It promotes circulation, reduces inflammation, and helps keep the spine mobile. Avoid overdoing it or walking on uneven surfaces if pain worsens. Consistency and moderation are key for recovery.