Treatment for Sciatica
Sciatica or pain going down the leg is a very common pain feature of patients suffering from low back pain. It presents as leg pain that is worse than the low back pain likely associated, increased symptoms when sitting, burning or tingling down the leg, occasionally can progress to weakness. However before we get started with treatment options, its important to understand that sciatica is not the only cause of leg pain (see below for other causes*) and an accurate diagnosis ensures that the treatment options below are appropriate for you.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in the leg that is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve where it originates in the lower back. The cause of this irritation is compression, bulging or herniation of a disc in the low back.
Top 5 exercises for Sciatica
Knees to chest - Lie on your back with knees bent, slowly bring knees to chest one at a time, rock side to side if tolerated
Windshield wipers - Lie on your back with knees bent, slowly drop knees left to right together
Figure 4 stretch - Lie on your back with knees bent, place one heel over the other knee, option to bring knee to chest
Cobra - Lie on your stomach with hands placed palm down under your shoulders, gently lengthen the spine as you press your chest and head up off the floor
Side bend - Stand side ways to the wall with your elbow resting on the wall level with your shoulder, gently dip your hip towards the wall
For a more detailed description of sciatica, its causes and a thorough demonstration of these exercises, please see the video below
Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica
Decompression therapy is designed to help rehydrate the disc and get pressure and irritation off of the nerve.
Chiropractic alignment therapy integrates muscle work, joint mobilization, adjustments and assisted stretches and exercises to relieve pain.
*Sciatica is low back pain related leg pain. It is worse than the low back pain, also sharp, lancinating or deep and achy. The pain is usually on one side only and occurs in strips vs the entire leg.
A commonly confused symptom is that of spinal stenosis which is leg pain due to neurogenic claudication or a lack of blood flow to a particular nerve root. This is typically seen in older patients with degenerative spinal conditions. See blog post on spinal stenosis
Piriformis syndrome is another diagnosis that involves the sciatic nerve but instead of the nerve being affected at the level of the nerve root in the lower back, it is “entrapped” or compressed under the piriformis muscle (deep to the glut muscle) causing leg pain.
Referral pain mimics sciatic pain but it is generated from a muscle or joint problem in the low back, glut or various muscles in the leg.
