Sciatica can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels from the lower back into the buttocks and legs. These symptoms occur when the sciatic nerve—the large nerve that extends from the lower back into the legs—becomes irritated or compressed. While symptoms can range from mild discomfort to persistent pain, chiropractic care may help address the underlying factors contributing to sciatic nerve irritation.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is a symptom of irritation or pressure affecting the sciatic nerve rather than a condition itself. Problems involving the lower spine can place pressure on the nerve or surrounding nerve roots, resulting in discomfort that may travel along the nerve's pathway.
Common causes and contributing factors may include:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Changes in spinal alignment or mobility
- Muscle tension or imbalance
- Injuries involving the lower back
- Poor posture or prolonged sitting
- Degenerative changes in the spine
Symptoms of Sciatica
Symptoms often affect one side of the body and may include sharp or burning pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or a "pins and needles" sensation extending from the lower back or buttocks into the thigh, calf, or foot.
Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
Chiropractic care focuses on identifying the source of sciatic nerve irritation and developing a treatment plan based on your individual symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments may be used to improve spinal mobility and help reduce pressure or irritation affecting the nerves.
Treatment may also incorporate therapeutic exercises and stretches designed to improve flexibility, strength, circulation, and muscle balance. Depending on your needs, your chiropractor may recommend postural or lifestyle modifications to help minimize activities and positions that aggravate your symptoms.
Find Relief From Sciatic Nerve Pain
Radiating leg pain, numbness, and tingling can make walking, sitting, exercising, and completing everyday activities uncomfortable. If you are experiencing symptoms of sciatica, schedule an evaluation with our chiropractic team to determine what may be contributing to your discomfort and learn about conservative treatment options designed to help you move more comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain, numbness, tingling or weakness travelling from the lower back into the buttocks and legs. It happens when the sciatic nerve, the large nerve running from the lower back into the legs, becomes irritated or compressed. Sciatica is a symptom of that irritation rather than a condition in itself.
What causes sciatica?
Problems involving the lower spine can place pressure on the nerve or surrounding nerve roots. Common contributors include herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, changes in spinal alignment or mobility, muscle tension or imbalance, lower back injuries, poor posture or prolonged sitting, and degenerative changes in the spine.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Symptoms may include sharp or burning pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or a pins and needles sensation extending from the lower back or buttocks into the thigh, calf or foot.
Does sciatica affect one side of the body?
Symptoms often affect one side of the body, which is one of the things that distinguishes sciatica from more general lower back pain.
Can chiropractic care help with sciatica?
Chiropractic care focuses on identifying the source of the nerve irritation and building a plan around your symptoms. Adjustments may improve spinal mobility and reduce pressure on the nerves. Treatment may also include exercises and stretches to improve flexibility, strength, circulation and muscle balance.
Can sitting too long make sciatica worse?
Poor posture and prolonged sitting are among the recognised contributing factors. Your chiropractor may suggest postural or lifestyle changes to reduce the positions and activities that aggravate your symptoms.
