Can chiropractic care help with Sciatica?

Of all the low back conditions that chiropractors treat, sciatica is definitely on the top of the list. The diagnosis of sciatica doesn’t just mean any pain in the low back or down the leg. Oftentimes people get confused by using Google to look up their symptoms and it states they have Sciatica when, in truth, they just have Sacroilliac (SI joint) or Piriformis Syndrome pain that mimics sciatica.

Sciatica Compared to Piriformis Syndrome:

Very commonly a case of Piriformis Syndrome is diagnosed as Sciatica instead. These two conditions have very similar symptoms but are distinguishable by a few key things. One thing they both have in common is that the influence the same nerve - the sciatic nerve. But for a major difference, sciatica’s issues originate in the lumbar spine with a nerve root(s) that are impinging on the sciatic nerve. This differs from Piriformis Syndrome in that the piriformis (a muscle underneath the Gluteus Muscles) becomes tight or taught; thus encroaching upon the sciatic nerve that runs through the muscle.

Sciatica symptoms include:

• Pain in the low back that radiates down to the back of the leg

• Usually pain is only on one side of the body

• A differentiator of other low back issues is that sciatica usually radiates past the knee and into the foot

• Pain is usually worse when sitting but relieved by standing or walking

• Weakness, numbness, burning, or tingling sensations that make it diffuclt to walk or get up from sitting

Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica:

• Chiropractic Adjustment and Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine

• Manual Muscle Therapy to Lumbar Paraspinals

• Corrective Exercise for Core Engagement

• Active Release Technique

• Graston / Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

• Kinesiology Tape with RockTape for Posture and Pain Relief

• NormaTec Compression Boot Therapy

• Heat Therapy