What is sciatica? Learn how chiropractic can help with your sciatica pain.
The symptoms of sciatica occur when a nerve root in the lower spine is irritated or compressed by a chemical or mechanical source.
The sciatic nerve is formed by the union of 5 nerve roots (L4 to S3) in the lumbar and sacral spine. Irritation or compression of any of these nerve roots (also called radiculopathy) can cause pain, numbness, and/or weakness along the entire distribution of the nerve. Nerve root irritation is most common at the L4, L5, and/or S1 level of the spine. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
Symptoms of sciatica
Sciatica pain travels down from the lower back, into the leg, and may sometimes affect the feet and toes. Other sensations associated with sciatica may include tingling, numbness, burning, and/or a prickly feeling. Depending on the location of nerve compression, different sciatica symptoms may be experienced. For example, the L5 and S1 nerve roots are commonly affected and may cause the following symptoms:
- Sciatica from the L5 nerve root may cause pain along the outer part of the thigh and leg, and weakness while lifting the foot.
- Sciatica from the S1 nerve root may cause pain in the calf and foot, and numbness along the outer side of the foot and in the third, fourth, and fifth toes.
Typically sciatica symptoms affect one leg at a time. Rarely, both legs may be affected if the underlying cause compresses the left and right nerve roots together. The severity and duration of pain from sciatica can also vary. Most commonly, a sharp, burning, or searing pain may be felt. Sometimes, the pain may be a dull ache or a mild discomfort that comes and goes.
Piriformis Syndrome and Other Similar Conditions
Piriformis syndrome is a condition where the piriformis muscle swells and/or develops spasms due to overuse or inflammation and irritates the sciatic nerve (which lies right below it). The nerve may also get entrapped in the muscle. Piriformis syndrome causes sciatica-like pain, tingling, and numbness that often starts from the lower back and runs down the leg and into the foot.
While the pain and discomfort from piriformis syndrome may feel similar to sciatica, it is not caused by a compressed sciatic nerve root in the spine. Piriformis syndrome pain occurs due to compression of a part of the sciatic nerve near the piriformis muscle. The pain usually follows the same pattern in the leg as a compressed sciatic nerve root.
Arthritis or other inflammatory conditions around the hip joint may also cause pain to travel down the leg similar to sciatica. This pain is usually referred down from the pain source and is not radicular nerve pain that originates from the nerve roots.
Other conditions, such as sacroiliac joint dysfunction or sacroiliitis can cause sciatica-like pain that extends down the back of the thigh but usually ends before the knee. This pain can be acute and debilitating, as in sciatica, and is caused by an abnormal motion or misalignment of the sacroiliac joint in the pelvis.
What is sciatica treatment like?
In order to obtain effective pain relief from lower back and leg pain, it is important to correctly identify the exact underlying cause of sciatica. A doctor can conduct specific diagnostic and clinical tests to identify the cause and rule out serious medical conditions.
Treatments for sciatica and other lower back conditions are usually different. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis can help formulate an effective treatment plan to target the specific cause. Typically, the treatment options often require some trial and error. Some patients may find certain treatments more effective than others. The response to a specific treatment plan may vary considerably between different individuals with the same diagnosis for sciatica.
Sciatica treatment outcomes
Chiropractic adjustment for sciatica
Chiropractic adjustments, or spinal manipulations, are at the center of the chiropractic method of care. During an adjustment, your chiropractor will use their hands to apply a swift, controlled force to a joint of the spine in order to restore the proper alignment of your vertebrae, thereby freeing your nervous system to function properly.
In many cases, because the adjustments quickly take the pressure off of the sciatic nerve, patients find quick and effective relief of their sciatic pain. However, it is important to continue to get routine adjustments as you are retraining your muscles to allow the vertebrae to maintain their new alignment. Until your body fully settles into proper alignment, continuous treatment is necessary.
