Sciatica Specialist

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is pain that stems from impingement or irritation of the sciatic nerve in the lumbar spine. Often, sciatica is caused by the piriformis muscle putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica includes pain in the lower back as well as radiant pain or numbness that extends down one or both legs.

What causes sciatica?

A variety of conditions can irritate the sciatic nerve in the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine and cause sciatica. These conditions may include:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated disc
• Infections in or near the lumbar spine
• Injuries
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Pregnancy
• Spondylolisthesis

How is sciatica treated at Active Medical Center?

Instead of relying on pain medication, which only masks the pain and doesn’t heal the root cause, the doctors at Active Medical Center work to identify the condition causing sciatica and focus on healing the body. Once the true root cause of the sciatic pain is identified, the doctors will create a customized treatment plan to address the specific needs of the individual patient. Patients may be provided with a variety of treatments including chiropractic adjustments and manual therapies to help the muscles and soft tissues relax. Chiropractic adjustments can correct spinal alignment and release any pressure caused by slightly out-of-place spinal discs. Patients may receive trigger point injections which provide immediate relief of pain and can relax these spasms that put pressure on the sciatic nerve. The doctors provide care without relying on pain medication. The philosophy of care at Active Medical Center is to heal the body, improve function, and prevent injury in the future.

When should I see a doctor about sciatica?

If the sciatic pain is preventing you from participating in normal day-to-day activities, you should make an appointment with the medical team at Active Medical Care. The doctors believe that no one should live with pain and suggest that patients have treatment to first relieve pain and second to heal the body so the condition doesn’t become worse, resulting in worse or chronic pain. If your pain is related to the following conditions, you should make an appointment at your earliest convenience:

• Occurs after a fall or injury to your back
• Radiates down one or both legs
• Gets worse while resting or at night
• Is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs
• Is accompanied by fever