Sciatica: pain that travels down the leg
Burning, tingling, numbness or pain from the low back or buttock into the leg.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is not a diagnosis in itself but a description: irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the low back through the buttock and down the leg. It is commonly caused by a disc pressing on a nerve root, by a narrowed space where the nerve exits the spine, or by muscle tension in the buttock. The pain can be sharp, burning or electric, and may come with numbness or weakness. It is one of the most common reasons people from Meridian and across the Treasure Valley come to see us.
Sciatica is characterized by pain in the lower back that radiates down one or both legs. The pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, like “pins and needles” or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms include burning, numbness and tingling. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity from mild to severe, and frequency may range from occasional to constant. The onset is generally gradual and not necessarily associated with a previous event. Sciatica is also known as radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia.
Why does it keep coming back?
Because several different problems can produce the same leg pain, finding the source matters more than treating the symptom. The nerve scan, exam and imaging are how the doctors tell one cause from another.
How we look at it at Bonfire
The first visit is the same careful process whatever brought you in: a nerve scan with a chiropractic assistant, then your history, a thorough exam with the doctor, and X-rays the same day. Visit two is the report of findings, where you hear what was found and what care could look like, before your first adjustment.
What does care involve?
Care depends on the cause: specific adjustments to the low back and pelvis, corrective exercise to reduce the load on the irritated nerve, and SoftWave therapy where the doctors think it may help. If findings suggest something outside chiropractic scope, you will be referred.
Two minutes from the doctors
Questions about sciatica
How do I know it is sciatica and not hip pain?
Sciatica usually travels below the knee and often comes with tingling or numbness; hip-joint pain tends to sit in the groin or the side of the hip. The exam sorts this out.
Should I stretch it?
Some stretches help and some make it worse, depending on the cause. If you have tried stretches and are still in pain, it is time to be examined.
Is surgery the only option for a disc?
Many disc-related cases are managed conservatively. The doctors will tell you honestly if your findings point elsewhere.
This page is general education, not medical advice. Individual results vary. Talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your own situation, and never stop a prescribed medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.