We commonly see people for sciatica here at Be Balanced Chiropractic. Often is something chiropractors can assist with. Many people see us who suffer from sciatica and I have found that there is a lot of confusion about what sciatica really is and what causes it.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica itself is not a condition alone. Numbness and tingling or pain in the leg and/or buttocks are all common expressions of sciatica. This is where the sciatic nerve runs, but something else has to cause sciatic pain. It can appear in many different forms from, tingling in the leg to the toes, numbness, burning pain in the hip, pain in the buttocks. The pain can be constant for some people or it can come and go.
We hear a lot that people have a ‘pinched nerve’ causing their pain. Although this isn’t a technically correct term for it, in some cases the sciatic nerve can be involved directly. A disc herniation can irritate the nerve and send pain into the leg and buttocks. There could also be muscle tightness impinging or trapping the nerve.
Nerves are not always the cause of sciatica. Muscles them selves can spasm and mimic and replicate nerve pain or send sensation into the leg. Tight glute muscles, the piriformis and even muscles higher up in the back could all effect the leg.
As a chiropractor my job is to assess the body and find out the origin of the pain and help people on an individual basis as not every case we see is the same. We also have x-ray facilities on site which help us with our diagnosis.
If you have been suffering from sciatic pain and want to know more or book an appointment call us on 07-02811590 or contact us online.
Dr Nicole Atkinson