Pain travelling from your lower back or buttock into your leg can be worrying. You might feel a sharp, burning or electric-like sensation. Perhaps your leg feels tingly or numb. Or maybe sitting in the car, working at your desk or getting comfortable in bed has suddenly become difficult. You may have been told, “It sounds like sciatica.” But what exactly does that mean? And can a chiropractor help with sciatica?
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a term commonly used to describe pain and other symptoms travelling along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is formed from nerve roots in the lower part of the spine and travels through the buttock and into the leg.
Sciatica can involve:
- Pain in the lower back or buttock
- Pain travelling into the thigh or calf
- Tingling
- Pins and needles
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Pain aggravated by certain movements or positions
- Sharp/shooting pain or Electric-shock-like sensations
- Burning pain
The symptoms may occur on one side or, less commonly, both sides. It’s important to understand that not every episode of leg pain is sciatica. A proper assessment is therefore important. Some people have significant leg pain with relatively little back pain. Others have both back and leg symptoms.
What causes sciatica?
Sciatica can occur when a nerve root in the lower spine becomes irritated or compressed. One possible cause is a disc problem. The discs between the vertebrae act as shock absorbers, and changes to a disc can sometimes affect nearby nerve tissue. However, disc changes are common, particularly as people age, and the presence of a disc abnormality on imaging doesn’t automatically mean that it is responsible for someone’s symptoms. Other conditions can also produce similar symptoms. That’s why assessment matters.
Does sciatica mean you have a slipped disc? Not necessarily. “Slipped disc” is a popular term, but discs don’t literally slip out of place. A disc can bulge or herniate, and in some circumstances, this may irritate a nearby nerve root.
What should you do if you have sciatica?
One of the most important principles is to avoid assuming that complete rest is the answer.
For example, you may need to:
- Take shorter walks
- Change sitting positions regularly
- Avoid repeatedly aggravating movements
- Gradually rebuild strength
- Follow an individualised exercise programme
The goal is not necessarily to avoid every movement that produces discomfort. It is to find a sensible level of activity and progressively restore function.
Can chiropractic care help sciatica? Chiropractic care may be appropriate for some people with lower-back and leg symptoms.
An assessment can help determine:
- Whether your symptoms appear musculoskeletal
- Whether neurological symptoms are present
- Whether chiropractic care is appropriate
- Whether another healthcare professional should assess you
- Whether further investigation may be warranted
What happens during a chiropractic assessment?
Your chiropractor may ask:
- Where does the pain start?
- Where does it travel?
- When did it begin?
- Is there numbness or tingling?
- Have you noticed weakness?
- What makes the symptoms better or worse?
- Have you experienced this before?
- Have you had any recent injury?
- Are there other health factors that need to be considered?
When is sciatica an emergency?
Most cases of sciatica are not emergencies, but certain symptoms require urgent assessment.
Seek urgent medical attention if you develop:
- New loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness around the genitals or anus
- Significant or progressive weakness
- Severe neurological changes
- Major trauma associated with your symptoms
These symptoms can indicate serious nerve compression and shouldn’t be managed solely through routine chiropractic care.
NICE neurological guidance also highlights concerning features such as gait disturbance, clumsy or weak limbs and new bladder or bowel disturbance when assessing radicular symptoms. If in doubt, seek medical assessment.
Can you prevent sciatica?
There isn’t a guaranteed way to prevent every episode. However, maintaining general physical fitness, gradually building strength, avoiding sudden large increases in physical workload and staying active can support overall musculoskeletal health. If your job involves prolonged sitting, regular movement breaks can also be useful. If you lift weights, play sport or perform physical work, sensible progression is generally more useful than trying to avoid all loading.
If pain is travelling from your lower back or buttock into your leg, it’s worth getting the symptoms properly assessed rather than simply assuming you have a “pinched nerve”.
At Schafer Chiropractic and Associates in Somerset West, chiropractic assessment focuses on understanding your symptoms and determining whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your individual presentation.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a chiropractor fix sciatica? There is no treatment that can guarantee that sciatica will be “fixed”. Chiropractic care may form part of a broader management approach for appropriate patients.
- Should I walk with sciatica? For many people, gentle movement is preferable to prolonged inactivity, but your activity should be adjusted according to your symptoms and ability.
- How long does sciatica last? It varies. Some episodes improve relatively quickly, while others persist for longer and require more comprehensive management.
- Is sciatica the same as lower back pain? No. Lower back pain can occur without nerve-related leg symptoms. Sciatica specifically refers to symptoms associated with the sciatic nerve or its nerve roots.
- Do I need an MRI for sciatica? Not necessarily. Imaging is not routinely recommended for every person with low back pain or sciatica. It may be appropriate when the results are likely to change management.
- Can sciatica cause numbness? Yes. Numbness and altered sensation can occur when nerve tissue is affected. New or progressive neurological symptoms should be assessed professionally.
Don’t ignore persistent leg symptoms
Sciatica can be uncomfortable and sometimes frightening but understanding what your symptoms mean is the first step. If you’re experiencing lower-back pain with symptoms travelling into your leg and you’re based in Somerset West or the surrounding Helderberg area, contact Schafer Chiropractic and Associates to a book an appointment.
