What Is Sciatica?

If you are one of the unfortunate many who have experienced sciatic pain, you know just how devastating it can be. The pain generally comes from the lower spine, then refers down the leg into the calf and feet. It begins as acute and severe, soon turning chronic if not properly addressed.

How the pain travels so far demonstrates the amount of serious compression involved in the nerve. This excessive pressure has the power to travel all the way to your toes.

The Causes of Sciatica

Sciatic pain or sciatica can have many different causes, such as

• Disc compression
• Spinal canal stenosis
• Vertebral rotation
• Ligamental thickening in the central spinal canal
• Excessive muscle spasm

Though it feels like a pain you simply cannot cope with, know that just 5-8% of cases require surgery. It is not a life sentence. We have many ways to assist you that are more conservative. If they don’t work, you can resort to medications, injections and finally, surgery. Forming a diagnosis involves a thoughtful review of your medical history, and a physical and neurological examination.

Diagnostic testing may include an x-ray, and/or electrodiagnostic tests (nerve conduction velocity, electromyography). These examinations and tests help to detect possible contraindications to spinal adjustments and other chiropractic therapies.