The sciatic (pronounced si - at - ik) nerve is a long, thick nerve (about as thick as your thumb) that extends from the center of the buttock, down the back side of the upper leg. Because this nerve is so large, when it is damaged, inflamed, or irritated, it can be very painful. Based on the fact that you are reading this article, chances are that you are well aware of the severe pain, numbness, and loss of function that accompanies "sciatica."
The good news is - we can help!
The sciatic nerve like all peripheral nerves, starts as nerve roots from your spinal cord. The nerve roots exit between the bones in your lower back, and eventually contribute to the massive sciatic nerve that exits under a large muscle in the buttock called the piriformis. In some patients the sciatic nerve lies directly under the piriformis muscle, in others it actually pierces the muscle.
If there is injury or irritation at any point along this path, the sciatic nerve can become inflamed, and symptomatic.
Disc injuries, vertebral bone misalignment, swelling, ligament instability, muscle imbalances - including spasm, weakness, and injury, are all possible causes of sciatica.
Since there are so many possibilities that could cause sciatica, symptoms should be carefully evaluated by a trained professional with years of experience.
Although 10 patients may have the exact same symptoms and ultimately diagnosed with "sciatica" there could potentially be 10 different causes, and theoretically 10 different treatments.
Signs to watch out for include pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or spasm in the buttock and back of the thigh, lower leg feet or toes.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms give us a call today.
We are chiropractors standing by to help make a detailed and accurate diagnosis.
We have literally helped hundreds of patients just like you, without the need for surgery. In short if we can't help you, you're in serious trouble.
So if you want to get out of pain and get back to life, give us a call today. We are here to help!
A basic description of anatomy will help you to understand the complexity of the “lumbar spine,” the medical term for what is commonly referred to as the lower back.
The lumbar spine is made up of 5 separate bones or “vertebra” essentially stacked on top of one another.
Each vertebra is separated by a disc, which acts as a shock absorber, and allows you to bend, twist and rotate at each level independently. The separation that the disc provides also allows an essential space for the spinal nerve roots to exit.
This entire system is bound by fibrous bands called ligaments, and serves as attachments and levers for many different muscles.
Injury to any one of these delicate structures can result in profound symptoms. Moreover, it may be difficult for you to determine the source of your pain, since symptoms may be closely related. Even though symptoms from one person to the next may be similar, treatment may be very different depending on the source of the injury. This is why it is so important to have an experience clinician make the diagnosis.
Whether you're suffering from a stiff back or severe pain, we can help. There is no need to live with pain or stiffness any longer.
A more in depth discussion of some of the more common conditions we treat can be found by clicking on one of the links to the right…
