Sciatica

Sciatica affects the sciatic nerve which is a large nerve that runs from the lumbar spine down the back of the leg, via the hips, buttocks then right down to the feet. It is the longest nerve in the body. Sciatica essentially means inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

What are the common causes of sciatica?

There are many possible causes of sciatica, although the cause of your sciatica may not become clear to you immediately. The cause of sciatica will vary greatly depending on your age and history. Some common cause of sciatica include:

Disc herniation in the lumbar spine (lower back)
Bone spurs or spinal stenosis (degeneration) in the lumbar spine
Spondylolisthesis
Pregnancy
Excess weight
Poor posture
Occupation – lots of prolonged sitting or heavy lifting

At Total Health Chiropractic, our Chiropractors are committed to finding the cause of your dysfunction and pain. We have helped thousands of people with sciatica – helping them with acute, sharp, severe sciatica, as well as people who experience chronic sciatica.

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica may present as:

Shooting pain down the leg
Nerve pain like burning or tingling in your lower back, hip, leg, or foot
Numbness in any of these areas
Weakness in certain muscles from the lower back down to the foot

It’s important to note that sciatica can range from a mild ache to severe or sharp pain. It may be intermittent or constant in nature. Sciatica may affect just one side of the body or both. It can affect anyone at any time.

Sciatica treatment – how Chiropractic care may help

There are many treatment options for sciatica both down the medical route and the allied health route. Every case of sciatica is different, as every person has a different clinical history in terms of previous occupation, history of trauma or injury, and levels of activity and exercise.

After a thorough assessment with one of our Chiropractors, a tailored treatment plan will be made based on your needs. We aim to reduce the severity of your symptoms and improve function as soon as possible, getting you back to your best quickly.

For the majority of cases, a conservative approach to treatment is often the best option. However, if severe pain lasts more than three months or you experience weakness, numbness, and loss of bladder or bowel function, it is important to get assessed immediately.

A tailored treatment plan from a Chiropractor may include:

Spinal and pelvic Chiropractic adjustments – If the vertebrae (bones of your spine) are out of alignment or misaligned, they may put pressure on the disc or the sciatic nerve. This can lead to nerve pain and muscle tension around the area. If there is spinal misalignment, a Chiropractor may be able to reduce the severity of your sciatica symptoms by adjusting the spine.
Heat/Cold therapy
Rehabilitation exercises
Soft-tissue therapy
Stretches

Contact Us

If you have any questions, or wish to book an appointment with one of our experienced Chiropractors, head to our contact us page and select your preferred practice.