Chiropractor for Sciatica

Sciatica is likely to be caused by an irritation to the long sciatic nerve that runs down the back of the leg. It is often accompanied by a joint dysfunction in the low back and pelvis, along with tight muscles in the back of the leg.

To stop the sciatic nerve from getting irritated, it’s important to understand why you have the sciatica in the first place i.e is it from sitting all day, scoliosis etc. Chiropractic care can assist in decreasing the irritation to the sciatic nerve through adjustments in the low back, but many patients find it beneficial to learn sciatic nerve flossing stretches. 

It depends on the patient, the factors that brought about the sciatica, age of patient and how long they have had the sciatica for.

For people that have had sciatica for over 3 months (chronic sciatica) it can take a year or more if the contributing factors that brought about the sciatica are still active in that person’s life.

If an individual has had sciatica for less than 3 months generally it can take anywhere between a few days to a few months to resolve the sciatica symptoms. 

Chiropractic is very effective in addressing sciatica symptoms. Likely if sciatica has gotten worse under the care of Chiropractic, then there is part of a patient’s lifestyle that has yet to have been addressed. That is, the patient may still have bad habits such as lifting incorrectly or there are structural abnormalities that have yet to have been addressed such as a scoliosis.

For many people, yes. Gentle walking keeps the spine moving and is usually better than long periods of sitting or bed rest. Start with short walks on flat ground and build up gradually. If walking makes your leg pain, numbness or tingling noticeably worse, ease off and let your chiropractor know.

Long periods of sitting are one of the most common things that aggravate sciatica, because sitting increases pressure on the discs and nerves in the lower back. You don’t have to avoid sitting. Instead, get up and move every 30 to 45 minutes, sit with your back supported, and avoid slumping or sitting on a wallet. If you work at a desk, we can help you with your setup.

• lying on your side with a pillow between your knees
• lying on your back with a pillow under your knees

Both can help ease pain. Ice is often more comfortable in the first few days of a flare-up. Heat can help relax tight muscles in the lower back and buttock once things settle. Use either for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time, and always wrap it in a cloth to protect your skin. Ice and heat can help with symptoms, but they don’t fix the underlying cause, so it’s worth getting assessed if your pain keeps coming back.