Sciatica

Sciatica, which is mild to intense leg pain, is a medical term used to describe symptoms caused by a specific low back disorder. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve or related nerve roots in the low back are compressed.

Doctors of Chiropractic medicine regularly treat sciatica. Sciatica is characterized by pain that originates in the low back or buttock that travels into one or both legs. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity and frequency; minimal, moderate, severe and occasional, intermittent, frequent or constant.

Pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatica is also called radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia. A misconception is that sciatica is a disorder - however, sciatica is really a symptom of a disorder.

Classic sciatic symptoms include:

• Pain that travels from the low back, through the buttocks, downward into the leg and sometimes into the foot.
• Symptoms usually affect only one side of the lower body.
• Pain and other symptoms may be constant and vary from mild to severe.
• Shooting pain down your leg - sometimes described as like electricity.
• Burning and tingling sensations in your leg.
• Partial leg numbness or weakness.
• Severe symptoms can make sitting, standing and walking difficult.
• Coughing, sneezing, and other sudden movements can intensify pain.

Proper Diagnosis

Since there are many disorders that cause sciatica, the chiropractor's first step is to determine what is causing the patient's sciatica. Forming a diagnosis involves a thoughtful review the patient's medical history, and a physical and neurological examination. Diagnostic testing includes an x-ray, MRI, and CT scan. These examinations and tests help to detect possible need for spinal adjustments and other chiropractic therapies.

Treatment Approach

The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to help the body's potential to heal itself. It is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain and reduced function and performance. Chiropractic care is non-invasive (non-surgical) and drug-free. The type of chiropractic therapy provided depends on the cause of the patient's sciatica. A sciatica treatment plan may include several different treatments such as ice/cold therapies, ultrasound, TENS, and spinal adjustments - sometimes called manipulation.