Sciatica

The condition in which leg pain results from the compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve is commonly known as Sciatica. This painful condition originates in the lower back, radiates into the buttock, and then travels down the leg. However, not all types of lower back pain or pain that radiates down the leg is Sciatica. Walking and running can be difficult when you suffer from sciatica. This condition is one of several conditions that we treat at All Health Chiropractic Clinic.

What does Sciatica feel like?

The symptoms associated with this condition are usually felt along the large sciatic nerve’s path and are characterized by one or more symptoms.

Below symptoms are typically one-sided. In other words, Sciatica usually affects one leg and often results in the affected leg feeling considerably heavier than the unaffected leg. Although it’s extremely rare, we have seen some patients at All Health Chiropractic Clinic that have felt these effects in both legs simultaneously.

Radiating Pain

Sciatic pain feels like a constant burning sensation or shooting pain that starts in the buttock or lower back and radiates down the back or front of the leg all the way to your feet.

Numbness

Pain in the back of the leg is often accompanied by numbness as well. In some cases, there may also be tingling and/or weakness.

Posture-Induced Symptoms

The symptoms of Sciatica often feel worse when you’re bending the spine forward, lying down, sitting, trying to stand up, twisting the spine, and/or while coughing. Symptoms can be relieved by applying heat packs on the rear pelvic region or by walking.

7 Treatment Approaches for Sciatica

At All Health Chiropractic Clinic, we employ several methods and techniques for the treatment of Sciatica, including an accurate diagnosis of the condition and selection of one or more appropriate treatment approaches, including but not limited to:

Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic Exercises
Ultrasound
Chiropractic Massage Therapy
Heat and Cold Therapies
Lifestyle Changes
Spinal Decompression

Key Symptoms Associated With Sciatica

It is important to understand that the symptoms of Sciatica are not considered medical conditions but are associated with back pain. The condition was formerly known as lumbar radiculopathy – “lumbar” meaning the lower back, and “radicular” meaning pain that radiates through the sciatic nerve. The 6 most common Sciatica symptoms include:

This type of pain results when the muscles in the affected leg feel like they are contracting by themselves. There may be muscle spasms or the muscles feel extremely tight.

If the leg feels heavy when trying to lift, this is due to the weakness of the muscle. This is caused by a compromised nerve that is not firing properly at the muscles of the leg.

A loss of feeling on the side of the thigh is a common symptom of Sciatica as well. In most cases, it feels like a loss of sensation to the touch rather than the total absence of any feeling at all.

While pain is the #1 symptom, where and to what degree the individual feels the pain often varies. Pain can range from aching to burning to feeling like you’re being stung by something. It can feel as though the pain is travelling down the back of the leg or be felt in a specific area. Finally, pain often ranges from feeling mildly uncomfortable to completely disabling.

This is commonly experienced in conjunction with numbness. It can be experienced over a large area or be more localized. The tingling feeling can also feel like a mild itch.

Although not one of the more common symptoms, patients often report that their foot or lower leg feels cold on the affected side. This is often a warning sign of an acute Sciatica episode.

This type of pain results when the muscles in the affected leg feel like they are contracting by themselves. There may be muscle spasms or the muscles feel extremely tight.

If the leg feels heavy when trying to lift, this is due to the weakness of the muscle. This is caused by a compromised nerve that is not firing properly at the muscles of the leg.

A loss of feeling on the side of the thigh is a common symptom of Sciatica as well. In most cases, it feels like a loss of sensation to the touch rather than the total absence of any feeling at all.

While pain is the #1 symptom, where and to what degree the individual feels the pain often varies. Pain can range from aching to burning to feeling like you’re being stung by something. It can feel as though the pain is travelling down the back of the leg or be felt in a specific area. Finally, pain often ranges from feeling mildly uncomfortable to completely disabling.

This is commonly experienced in conjunction with numbness. It can be experienced over a large area or be more localized. The tingling feeling can also feel like a mild itch.

Although not one of the more common symptoms, patients often report that their foot or lower leg feels cold on the affected side. This is often a warning sign of an acute Sciatica episode.