Sciatica can make something as simple as sitting, walking, driving, or getting out of bed uncomfortable.
The pain may begin in the lower back or buttock and travel down the leg. Some people describe it as aching or burning, while others experience numbness, tingling, or weakness.
But “sciatica” isn't really a diagnosis by itself. It's a term used to describe symptoms associated with irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that ultimately form it.
At Northwood Chiropractic & Wellness in Maple Grove, MN, we evaluate patients with sciatica to help determine what may be contributing to their symptoms and whether conservative treatment is appropriate.
What Does Sciatica Feel Like?
Sciatica most commonly affects one side of the body.
Symptoms can include:
- Low-back or buttock pain
- Pain traveling down the back or side of the thigh
- Pain extending into the calf or foot
- Burning or electric-like pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Leg or foot weakness
The location and type of symptoms can vary depending on which nerve structures are involved.
Some people primarily experience leg pain with very little back pain.
What Causes Sciatica?
Several conditions can produce sciatica-like symptoms.
One of the more common causes is irritation or compression of a lumbar nerve root.
Potential causes include:
- A bulging or herniated lumbar disc
- Degenerative changes in the spine
- Spinal or foraminal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Injury or inflammation affecting the lower back
- Other conditions affecting the nerves or surrounding structures
This is why simply knowing that pain travels down your leg doesn't necessarily tell us what treatment you need.
The underlying cause matters.
How Is Sciatica Evaluated?
Your evaluation begins with understanding exactly what you're experiencing.
We'll ask about where your symptoms begin, where they travel, what positions make them better or worse, how long you've had them, and whether you've noticed numbness or weakness.
Your examination may include assessment of:
- Lower-back movement
- Leg strength
- Reflexes
- Sensation
- Nerve tension
- Hip and lower-extremity movement
- Activities or positions that reproduce your symptoms
X-rays may be appropriate in some situations, although they don't directly show discs or nerve roots.
If your examination suggests advanced imaging such as an MRI or another medical evaluation is necessary, we'll discuss the appropriate next step.
Can Chiropractic Care Help With Sciatica?
It depends on what is causing the sciatica.
For some patients with lumbar radicular symptoms, conservative treatment may be appropriate.
Depending on your examination findings, chiropractic care may be used to improve comfortable spinal movement and may be combined with exercise, mobility work, and rehabilitation.
The important point is that sciatica shouldn't automatically receive the same treatment in every patient.
Someone with mild nerve irritation related to a disc problem may require a very different approach from someone with significant spinal stenosis or progressive neurological weakness.
What About Spinal Decompression?
For certain patients with disc- or nerve-related symptoms, spinal decompression may also be considered as part of conservative care.
At Northwood Chiropractic & Wellness, we provide both cervical and lumbar non-surgical spinal decompression.
Whether decompression is appropriate depends on your diagnosis, examination findings, health history, and other factors.
It isn't the right treatment for every patient with sciatica.
Movement & Rehabilitation Matter Too
Reducing symptoms is important, but eventually we also want to help you regain the ability to move and perform normal activities.
Rehabilitation and movement may focus on mobility, strength, movement tolerance, and gradually returning to activities that have become difficult.
The exercises selected depend on your individual presentation.
There isn't one universal “sciatica stretch” that everyone needs.
In fact, an exercise that helps one person's symptoms may aggravate another person's depending on what's causing the nerve irritation.
When Sciatica Needs Prompt Medical Attention
Most episodes of sciatica do not represent a medical emergency, but certain symptoms require prompt evaluation.
Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms are accompanied by:
- New loss of bowel or bladder control
- Numbness around the groin or saddle region
- Severe or rapidly progressing weakness in the leg
- Significant symptoms affecting both legs
- Other sudden or concerning neurological changes
These symptoms can indicate more serious nerve compression and shouldn't simply be treated as routine back pain.
How Long Does Sciatica Last?
Recovery varies considerably.
Some episodes improve over several weeks, while others persist longer depending on the cause, severity of nerve involvement, overall health, activity level, and other factors.
That's another reason we don't recommend the exact same treatment schedule for everyone.
Your progress should help guide your care.
Sciatica Treatment in Maple Grove, MN
If pain, numbness, or tingling is traveling from your lower back or buttock into your leg, determining why it's happening is an important first step.
At Northwood Chiropractic & Wellness, we'll evaluate your symptoms, neurological findings, movement, and health history to help determine what's contributing to the problem.
If your condition is appropriate for conservative care, we'll explain your treatment options and help you determine the right next step.
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Your first visit includes a consultation, comprehensive exam, X-rays if needed, and your first chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Greg Beenken
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