Sciatica Causes and Chiropractic Treatment Options

Content reviewed by Dr. Tyler Panko, DC

What are Causes of Sciatica?

There are many different causes for Sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body; starting in the middle of the low back and traveling down into the feet. Sciatica is easily diagnosed based on symptoms, but usually little thought is applied to the initital cause of the nerve irritation. Common causes and mechanisms of sciatica include: disc herniations, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, lumbar stenosis, and peripheral nerve entrapments to name a few.

What are Symptoms of Sciatica?

Symptoms of sciatica commonly include numbness, tingling, and/or shooting electrical pain radiating from the low back, down the leg and into the foot. Other symptoms may include: burning sensations and/or weakness within an extremity. Sciatica may be isolated to an individual symptom or it may include multiple sensations. Depending on the causative tissue, symptoms may be intermittent or constant.

Consult our Doctors if the Following Occur:

• Shooting electrical sensations
• Weakness, numbness, burning sensations
• Pins and needles
• Bowel or bladder problems
• Increased pain upon waking up or sitting

Our Chiropractic Treatment Approach Toward Sciatica:

At ICT Muscle & Joint Clinic, we focus on treating the symptoms and root cause of your pain. The body is a dynamic, mobile structure and must be assessed and treated as such to create successful long-term outcomes. We employ the best scientific, evidence-based, treatment procedures by a combination of chiropractic, soft tissue therapy, and rehabilitative exercises. Surrounding all joints, there must be a balance between tension and compression of the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and fascia. When pain is present, it is due to an imbalance of these structures requiring mobilization and release of tight structures, in addition to strengthening weak or inhibited structures of the painful joint(s) including the joint(s) above and the joint(s) below. Sciatica is often the consequence of chronic improper postural positions and improper muscular activation strategies. Our doctors’ focus on a comprehensive approach, geared toward lasting results.