What is it?
The sciatic nerve is a huge nerve that innervates a number of leg and foot muscles.
Patients often describe a shooting, sharp, dull ache in the back of the leg (hamstrings) into the calf muscle and sometimes the feet or toes.
Patients will sometimes report:
1. Pain from sitting to
2. Difficulty getting in and out of their car
3. That it happened all of a sudden usually during a mundane task
4. Numbness or tingling in the back of leg calf or toes
What causes it?
Common Causes
Nerve impingements
Disc herniation
Osteoarthritis
Degenerative Disc Disease
Lumbar Facet Syndrome
Piriformis Syndrome
Spondylolisthesis
Less Common Causes
Cancer
Tumours
Hip Dislocation
Fractures
How does sciatica get diagnosed?
Sciatica is fairly simple to diagnosis based upon your symptom description, the behaviour of your pain and a thorough physical examination.
Do you need scans (MRI’S/Xrays)?
Sometimes not always. It is really dependent on the cause of the sciatica. Generally, most causes of lower back pain can be managed very successfully without further scans. But if we need them, we get them
How to prevent it?
Take care of yourself! Stay Active, Get stronger… Improve your mobility and flexibility. Let’s come up with a plan to not have it happen again
What is the most effective treatment for sciatica?
Keep moving! The worst thing you can do is bed rest/sitting. Gentle movement like walking and swimming is advised. More specific advice will be given at your chiropractic appointment depending on the cause of your sciatica
What can I do to help my own back pain?
Book a chiropractic appointment and we will get you on your way! Get moving. Get Active and Get Strong. Once we have your pain and inflammation managed the goal of treatment is to restore the movement and function of your spine and muscles of your lower back and to prevent reoccurrence
Treatment for Sciatica
Sciatica is painful. Managing pain and inflammation is the primary focus in the initial stages of treatment
Restoring motion of the spine and spinal joints is important. An inflamed sciatic nerve doesn’t like to be sat on either
- Spinal Adjustments
- Muscle Releases
- Ice/Heat Therapy
- Trigger Point
- Dry Needling
- Rocktaping
- Exercise Rehabilitation: Stretching/Mobility/Stability/Activation/Motor Control
Do I need Surgery for Sciatica?
It is not likely that you will need surgical intervention for sciatic pain. But that depends. Book now.
Top 3 exercises to help sciatica!
Here’s a picture of the piriformis muscle. Sometimes this muscle can tighten up and squeeze on the sciatic nerve.
Stretching the Piriformis and Glute Muscles can sometimes help! Here’s a couple you can do at home. Hold for as long as you are comfortable (1min) either side, twice a day.