Sciatica is a severe pain in the leg caused by compression, irritation, or inflammation of the sciatic nerves, which are thick nerves extending down the back of each leg. Each sciatic nerve consists of five smaller nerves that join together and travel down the legs. The sciatic nerves bifurcate into smaller nerves that extend into the knee, foot, toes, calf, and thigh. The inflammation of any of these nerves is called sciatica.

People with sciatica sometimes experience shooting pain down the leg and into the foot and toes. Other times a dull ache or numbness may be noticed. Sciatica is caused by many things. Sitting at a desk for long periods of time can exacerbate the pain. Exercise can make the pain worse. Tennis, golf or other twisting activities can cause sciatica pain to flare up. The pain may be in both legs or only one.

The sciatic nerve is very long, so there are many places where it may become irritated or pinched. One place is the lower back. Often, a misaligned lumbar vertebra puts pressure on the nerve, causing the pain. This misalignment is called a subluxation.

Disc herniations can also cause sciatica. Discs are the "shock absorbers" between the vertebrae of the spine. They are cartilaginous cushions that occupy the spaces between the vertebrae which allow the back to turn and bend normally. If you've been injured in a car accident or a fall, these discs may tear or rupture, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica usually begins as an sharp pain in the lower back. Eventually, the pain progresses down the back of the leg. Some people report an increase in pain with sitting, standing, or staying in one position for a long period of time.

Medical doctors normally treat this condition with an aggressive use of pain killers and bed rest. Unfortunately, the sciatica seldom goes away with this treatment protocol. Treatment at our office focuses on finding the cause of the sciatic irritation and treating the injured area. We use gentle, effective therapies and rehabilitation in order to decrease the pain and make sure that it doesn’t flare up again.