Sciatica

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica describes pain felt along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your low back, down through the hip, into the hamstrings, down into the calf, and into the foot. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. 

Common Causes of Sciatica

The cause of sciatica is compression on the sciatic nerve from a herniated disc, joint inflammation, compression of the nerve from bony arthritic growths, or a locked facet joint in the lower spine. Sciatica can also be caused by piriformis syndrome, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and sacroiliitis but these are rarer.  It is up to your doctor to take the clinical picture and develop a diagnosis based on the examination. 

Who is most likely to get Sciatica?

Most people who get sciatica are between the ages of 30 and 50. Women may be more likely to develop the problem during pregnancy because of pressure on the sciatic nerve from the developing uterus. 

How is Sciatica Diagnosed?

Sciatica is a clinical diagnosis based on your symptom description, the behavior of your pain, and a physical examination. While the diagnosis of sciatica is reasonably simple, the primary cause of your sciatica may require further investigations to eliminate or confirm its origin. It is also important to determine how significant your sciatic nerve has been compressed. Lastly x-ray or MRI may be needed if involvement at the low back is suspected.

Treatment of Sciatica

Most sciatica is treated conservatively without the need for surgery. You can take anti-inflammatory medication as well as ice or heat depending on what stage of sciatica you are in.  Your chiropractor will adjust you to keep your joints mobile and decrease pain as well as give exercises to increase strength around the nerve to keep it protected while it heals. Specific treatment methods such as nerve glides, McKenzie exercises, or decompression therapy might be needed. If you have any specific questions please ask your chiropractor!

Depending on the severity of your symptoms your medical doctor can give injections for it and if needed even surgery can be necessary. Persisting symptoms over six months may require the attention of a surgeon who specialises in treating back pain and sciatica. If you have some severe symptoms such as bowel or bladder dysfunction or extreme muscle weakness you may require emergency surgery.