Sciatica Specialist

What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is a very long nerve – the longest in the body – that exits the spine near the lower back and branches off into two sections, each of which travels down a leg. When the sciatic nerve becomes pinched or irritated where it exits the spine in the lower back, it can cause a painful condition known as sciatica.

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica can have several different causes, including:

• standing or sitting for long periods of time
• poor posture
• sleeping on a mattress, that doesn’t provide adequate support
• wearing ill-fitting shoes
• degenerative spine diseases
• herniated or “slipped” discs
• injury to the lower back, including traumatic injuries and repetitive motion injuries
• carrying or lifting heavy objects without proper support

What Kinds of Symptoms Can Sciatica Cause?

Sciatica can cause localized pain or ache in the lower back, but most people with sciatica primarily complain of radiating pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensations that extend through the buttocks and down the leg. Pain can be sharp or dull, and sometimes, electric-like shocks can occur. Sciatica may affect one or both legs, and painful symptoms may occur when the patient is standing, sitting or even lying down at rest. Often, symptoms are severe enough to interfere with sleep or work.

How is Sciatica Treated?

Because sciatica occurs when the nerve is compressed or irritated as it exits the spine, treatment must be focused on relieving that compression and irritation. Chiropractic adjustments often play a leading role in treating sciatica, especially for people who experienced the condition recurrently or for long periods of time. Adjustments promote ideal spinal alignment to reduce nerve compression in the lower back where the sciatic nerve exits the spine. Plus, adjustments combined with massage and therapeutic exercise can help reduce inflammation and promote better circulation for faster healing in the area. When herniated discs are involved, injections may also help speed relief by reducing inflammation so the discs can resume their normal positions. And, of course, lifestyle changes may also help relieve pain and other symptoms.