Relevant answers to your frequent questions...

Sciatica: Frequently Asked Questions

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is caused whenever an undue pressure is exerted on the sciatic nerve. This nerve is about the size of your index finger running through the small of the back, pelvis and into the back of the leg where it starts to divide into branches. Because it has such a winding route through the lower limbs it can be caught, pressed or inflamed in a number of areas.
Sciatic is pain in the back which runs down the back of the leg. It is caused from irritation of the sciatic nerve itself or from pinching of the spinal nerves which form the sciatic nerve. Chiropractic care is a logical conservative approach to this condition. Reducing the irritation of the nerve by realigning the vertebrae helps many sciatic patients. Surgery is recommended when necessary, but can usually be prevented.
Sciatic is pain in the back which runs down the back of the leg. It is caused from irritation of the sciatic nerve itself or from pinching of the spinal nerves which form the sciatic nerve. Chiropractic care is a logical conservative approach to this condition. Reducing the irritation of the nerve by realigning the vertebrae helps many sciatic patients. Surgery is recommended when necessary, but can usually be prevented. Return to top 24.
Sciatica is a condition often associated with lower back pain in which the sciatic nerve (the large nerve that extends down the spinal column to its exit point in the pelvis and carries nerve fibers to the leg) gets irritated or pinched from a herniated or ruptured disc, sacroiliac ligament inflammation or tight muscles in the back of the hip (piriformis syndrome). Associated causes of sciatica include poor control of spinal stability, poor posture/body mechanics, prolonged sitting and repetitive lifting. ...

Is Sciatica treatable?

Yes, it is definitely possible to treat sciatica in majority of the cases. The common reasons are some form of pressure on the nerves in the back. If the cause can be diagnosed by investigations it is usually possible to treat it.

How is sciatica treated?

In the past sciatica has been treated with muscle relaxers, pain medications, physical therapy and surgery. The chiropractic approach to sciatica involves the use of carefull directed and controlled pressure to return the vertebrae to their functional alignment and reduce the irritation of the sciatic nerve and the associated pain.
In the past sciatica has been treated with muscle relaxers, pain medications, physical therapy and surgery. The chiropractic approach to sciatica involves the use of careful directed and controlled pressure to return the vertebrae to their functional alignment and reduce the irritation of the sciatic nerve and the associated pain. Back to Top

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica doesn't have symptoms. It is a symptom itself, consisting of pain, burning, tingling or electric shock-like feelings in the path of the sciatic nerve. It usually results from injury to the fibers that make up the sciatic nerve.

What causes Sciatica?

Like most other conditions, sciatica has a wide variety of causes, but an unhealthy spine with a protruded or ruptured disc can irritate the sciatic nerve causing sciatica. Strain/sprain of the sacroiliac joint can also refer pain into the groin and down the leg. Sciatica has been reported following accidents, injuries and even childbirth, usually due to spinal misalignment. ...
There are many causes of sciatica. The term sciatica describes irritation of the sciatic nerve and this may occur any where along the course of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve originates from the sacral plexus. The sciatic nerve may be trapped by a lumbar disc prolapse causing compression at the nerve root, or it may be compressed more peripherally by the piriformis, a muscle that lies deep in the buttock. It may occur after prolonged squatting, immobility, or fractures or dislocation of the hip joint. ...
Injury or inflammation of the sciatic nerve can cause pain to travel down the leg from the thigh and into the foot and toes. Sciatica may be caused by a back injury, an irritation from arthritis of the spine, or from pressure on the nerve at various points along the nerve pathway. Sciatica pain may also be caused by an abnormal bulging or protrusion of a disc in the lower back. The discs are jelly-like pads which act as elastic cushions to separate the vertebrae (spinal bones). ...

Can sciatica lead to permanent damage?

Yes, serious nerve damage can occur with sciatica. The pain from sciatica is the result of very real damage to your sciatic nerve. Usually, this damage is only minor and will heal once the pinched nerve is relieved. In all probability it will not result in permanent nerve damage, but the possibility does exist. However, sciatica is nothing to fool with and you should always see your doctor if you suspect that your symptoms are the result of a pinched nerve. ...

Is sciatica the same for everyone?

No, it can be different for each individual Your symptoms will differ depending on the location of the pinched nerve. For example, your pain may remain centered in your lower back. For someone else, it may run down the back of each leg or it may affect only one leg. Sometimes the pain can go all the way down to the feet and toes. Other people describe sciatica as a tingling or burning sensation. While others experience a prickly feeling like pins and needles in their feet and toes. ...

Is sciatica only caused by a herniated disc?

First, sciatica is a bit of a misnomer. Strictly, sciatica means pain in the distribution of the sciatic nerve. In medicine, sciatica commonly is used to describe lower extremity pain caused by the irritation of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve. This can be caused by a herniated disc or anything that puts pressure on the nerve root; such as spinal stenosis, severe facet arthritis, bone spurs, tumor, or cyst. ...

Why do people get sciatica?

Sciatica arises from injury to the fibers of the sciatic nerve. The injury can occur in one of four places: • Inside the spinal canal (cauda equina) • Where bundles of sciatic nerve fibers pass through bony openings in the spine (neuroforamina) • In the pelvis (lumbrosacral plexus) • Where the sciatic nerve exits the pelvis, below the piriformis muscle in the buttock (Piriformis Syndrome), or along the leg.

What are the most common treatments for sciatica?

Taking over-the-counter painkillers, Physical Therapy, rest, exercise and positioning such as Yoga, Alexander Technique and Feldenkreis, spinal manipulation, injections of anaesthetics, steroids or Botulinum toxins, surgery. • Acupuncture and Yoga can also be effective • Changing environmental factors: bed, chair, desk height, etc. • "Mind over matter" techniques

What are the main causes of sciatica?

• Herniated or slipped disc (herniated nucleus pulposus). This is by far the most common cause of sciatica • Pressure by the piriformis muscle in the buttock on the sciatic nerve. (Piriformis Syndrome) • Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on or pinches the fibers that make up the sciatic nerve • Slippage of one vertebra so that it is out of line with those above or beneath it (spondylolisthesis) • Abnormality of the nervous system itself, so that nerve fibers don’t transmit signals ...

Can you help my sciatica?

Proper skeletal and muscular alignment through walking will allow clients to heal a great many chronic aches and pains—sciatica especially. Sciatica is often the result of your piriformis muscle (a very important muscle deep in your butt) being in spasm and pressing against the sciatic nerve which is the longest nerve in the body and runs through your pelvis and down the back of your leg. ...

Is acupuncture effective for treatment of sciatica?

The AHCPR stud did not find acupuncture to be useful for patients with acute sciatica. The following quote is from the AHCPR report: "Invasive needle acupuncture and other dry needling techniques are not recommended for treating patients with acute low back problems.

What about "sciatica" pain?

The most common cause of pain radiating down the legs is not "sciatica" or sciatic nerve injury, but a weakness or injury to the ligaments that support the pelvic joint. This radiating or "referred" pain can be effectively treated by Prolotherapy.

What is sciatica and can Chiropractic help?

Sciatica is severe pain caused by compression, irritation, or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve originates and exits from the lower back and travels down each leg. Pressure on the nerve from a bone or disc out of place can irritate the nerve and send a feeling of pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling down the leg. The Chiropractic approach to treating sciatica is to find the source of the nerve irritation and relieve the pressure that is causing the pain. Sciatica responds very well to Chiropractic care.

Can you help with sciatica?

Yes, reflexology combined with acupressure / acupuncture has been very successful in helping relieve the pain of sciatica.

How Does a Chiropractor Treat Sciatica?

Your doctor of chiropractic is trained to restore the health of your spine and sciatic nerve. Special chiropractic methods, called adjustments, may relieve the irritation that's causing your low-back or leg pain.

How long does sciatica usually last?

No one can predict how long the symptoms will persist. A single episode of sciatica can last anywhere from a few days to as long as a few months. Most people find that the symptoms subside within a few weeks and they erroneously conclude that their problems are over. Depending on the cause of your sciatica, the leg pain or low back pain will probably return if proper steps are not taken to correct the source of the nerve compression. If left untreated it will grow worse and could become a chronic problem. ...

How does chiropractic care help leg pain and sciatica?

In the area of the sciatic nerve and legs, when nerves get irritated and result in pain, a properly adjusted spine allows for relief of nerve irritation and, therefore, relief from painful problems. Many patients prefer gentle adjustments to the alternatives of pain injections and surgery.

How do I know if I have sciatica?

If you feel pain, weakness and/or changes in sensation (tingling, jolts, hot and cold, numbness) along the anatomical path the sciatic nerve travels, or numbness or weakness in the skin and/or muscles that the nerve’s fibers serve, then you are suffering from sciatica. ...
If you feel pain, weakness and/or changes in sensation (tingling, jolts, hot and cold, numbness) along the anatomical path the sciatic nerve travels, or numbness or weakness in the skin and/or muscles that the nerve's fibers serve, then you are suffering from sciatica. ...

How does my weight affect sciatica and back pain ?

Being overweight is one of the main contributors to back pain. Simply put, being overweight causes more stress on the joints in your back. Thus you are more likely to adopt a poor posture, strain the surrounding muscles, exercise less and so on. Nevertheless, exercise will help your back and the sooner you start using the system the better you'll feel.
Being overweight is one of the main contributors to back pain. Simply put, being overweight causes more stress on the joints in your back. Thus you are more likely to adopt a poor posture, strain the surrounding muscles, exercise less and so on. Nevertheless, exercise will help your back and the sooner you start the better you'll feel.

What is Sciatica, symptoms of sciatica, anatomy, how is sciatica caused?

Back Pain Causes The Real Culprits By: Michelle Spencer | 18/02/2009 Most back sufferers who get a 'nothing really wrong' diagnosis are frustrated by it. But if you know beforehand that this diagnosis from surgeons is very common and that most surgeons are interested only in treating people surgically, you might be relieved instead of frustrated. Snoring Products To Stay Away From By: nlwest21
Bookmark this page  

Also on SnappyFingers: