Sciatica Chiropractic Treatment

Can a Chiropractor Help Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the nerve of the posterior compartment of the thigh and of all the compartments of the leg and foot. It is formed in the pelvis from L4, L5, S1-S3 nerve roots and is the largest and thickest nerve in the body, typically 2cm wide at its origin. It passes down along the back of the thigh before eventually dividing into the tibial and common peroneal nerves above the knee.

Innate Chiropractic can assess and determine the cause of Sciatica. Then enact a care plan to reduce and stop Sciatica pain.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica itself is not an actual diagnosis. Sciatica is a term used to describe the symptom of radicular pain or pain radiating from the back into the buttock and down the back or side of the thigh and leg, which may have associated muscle weakness and sensory changes. In other instances, the term is also used to refer to pain anywhere along the course of the sciatic nerve.

The radiating pain is commonly reported to be burning, hot, sharp or shooting like, to be on one side, worse on sitting or lifting and can reach the ankle, foot and toes. The pain can range from intermittent and annoying to constant and debilitating. There are many reasons why you may have developed Sciatica and our Innate Chiropractic team will determine the reason you have developed Sciatica presentation. It can be the case that you may have more than one reason that have contributed to Sciatica pain.

  • Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve
  • Lower back conditions
  • Disc bulge
  • Disc herniation
  • Spondylosis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Degenerative joint disease
  • Central canal stenosis
  • Foraminal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis

There are other conditions which can be accompanied by referred radiating pain into the buttock and down the back or side of the thigh and leg, making it feel like sciatica. Examples are;

  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
  • Iliolumbar syndrome
  • Quadratus lumborum syndrome
  • Trochanteric bursitis
  • Ischiogluteal bursitis
  • Facet syndrome
  • Meralgia paresthetica
  • Myofascial syndrome i.e. piriformis, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, tensor fascia lata and psoas

It is important to remember that there may not be just one cause of sciatica symptoms, and there may be a combination of two or more conditions such as the ones listed above.

Sciatica Chiropractic Treatment in Melbourne

What are Sciatica Symptoms?

Symptoms of sciatica can be numbing and weakness in your leg and foot. In addition, it may be experiencing a pins and needles feeling or shooting/burning pain. The pain suffered can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Sometimes patients have lived with the pain for months or years before they have come to us. We often find our patients lives have been greatly affected by Sciatica pain. It can interrupt all aspects of life from personal and work-related.

Our experience in Sciatica means we understand how it can affect so much of your life, from walking to getting out of a chair. When simple everyday movements bring such pain it can be debilitating. Don’t suffer this pain alone, see our team at Innate Chiropractic for immediate help.

Does Chiropractic Care for Sciatica Hurt?

Patients with Sciatica have already experienced a lot of pain. Direct pressure on the sciatic nerve that continues for prolonged periods will adversely affect the nerve and cause altered sensori-motor neurological function, risking long term damage. In rare instances the damage is to far progressed for Chiropractic care and surgery may be required.

In most instances where we can help, we do not want to cause any more pain. Your Chiropractor only uses gentle techniques so that pressure building on the sciatic nerve can be reduced, helping to improve function and your musculoskeletal health contributing to a greater quality of life.