Sciatica
One of the most common problems presented at our clinic in Victoria, London is Sciatica. However, it has often been poorly diagnosed or misunderstood in its origin. The cause of Sciatica (pronounced siatica or si-at-ic-a) is essentially compression on the Sciatic Nerve and is often a symptom associated with disc injuries.
Sciatica can be a pain, weakness or a tingling sensation which mirrors the path of the nerve and is characterised by pain that runs from the lower back, into the back of the buttock, down the leg, calf and even into the ankle and foot. Sciatica has many variations in how it presents, it can be intermittent or persistent; it can also change in its severity from mild to severely debilitating and can often last for many years. Symptoms of Sciatica can range from mild pain to constant and debilitating pain and can be felt in different ways such as a sharp or deep and aching pain; it can feel like a cramp, or a tingling feeling like pins and needles.
The reason Sciatica varies in such a way is that rather than being a condition itself, Sciatica is a symptom or sign of a more serious problem usually originating from within the spine.
Causes of Sciatic Pain
The Sciatic nerve originates mainly from the base three nerves of the Lumbar Spine known as L4, L5 & S1, these three roots come together in the buttocks on each side to form the common sciatic nerve. Due to the three levels of origin there are multiple places in the spine for the nerve to be pinched, each giving a slightly different pattern of pain and dysfunction.
Additionally, the nerve can be being pinched due to either 1) mechanical dysfunction; a spasm of the muscles or a locking of the joints. 2) damage to the disc; causing a bulge to press onto the nerve or inflammation to leak onto the nerve irritating it. 3) Arthritic change; dehydration of the disc reducing the adjacent nerve space, bone spurs from the vertebra or stenosis (enlarging) of the facet joints.
NB/ in reality by the time a patient seeks out professional help to alleviate the pain it is likely to be a combination of these 3 causes of Sciatica that adds up to their complaint; each of which ProBack Practitioners are experts at identifying and treating.
Symptoms of Sciatica
Here are some of the most common symptoms of Sciatica:
- Pain radiating down the leg
- Burning or pins and needles sensation in the leg
- Pain that is made worse by otherwise normal activities (e.g. sitting, lifting, coughing or sneezing)
- Consistent pain on one side of the leg or buttocks
Sciatica Assessment
Each case will have its own set of triggers and you might find your symptoms are worse when doing certain things, like lifting, sitting, coughing or sneezing. An increase in the amount of stress you put your body will generally lead to an increase in pain, unfortunately, too little activity can be just as stressful on the body, with pain developing over time as a result of the delayed reaction of the inflammatory process.
The first thing we’ll need to do is identify the triggers and find the underlying cause(s). Practitioners at ProBack in London will take your medical history, complete a thorough examination and perform physical tests to identify the specific cause of the Sciatica. Standing, weight-bearing x-rays may be needed to help unlock the puzzle and should something irregular be found then occasionally we may refer you for an MRI, preferably taken in an upright position.
Treatment for Sciatica
Treatment obviously needs to be specific to the individual case, no matter the root cause of pain, the bigger picture of dysfunction must also be addressed, as the long term security of the spine requires us to fix the mechanical dysfunction as well as the nerve/disc damage.
There is no cure for Sciatica as by definition it is not a disease but a symptom of damage or dysfunction somewhere else; however at ProBack Clinics we believe we are uniquely positioned within the UK to offer treatment in the form of the most advanced blend of technology specifically designed to bridge the gap between standard Chiropractic or Osteopathic care and the need for surgical intervention.
We have specifically structured programs, utilising advanced technology, developed from combining information from the latest research with years of inhouse clinical experience.
Our initial focus when treating Sciatica is pain relief, our most effective therapy especially in cases of Sciatica is usually Spinal Decompression, we combine this care with Shockwave Therapy to improve movement patterns and restore the correct function to aid in the healing of the disc and to prevent the complaint from returning. In severe cases where patients are extremely inflamed, we can rely on a short burst of Laser Therapy to reduce inflammation and enable us to begin decompression therapy.
By removing the pressure on the nerve, we often alleviate pain directly, sometimes the pain undergoes characteristic changes on the road to recovery, this is known as centralisation with pain reducing in the lower part of the leg before it does in the upper leg and back. A recent audit conducted by us determined an 80% pain relief in patients who presented with Sciatica and who completed a 9-week course of care.
Find out more about Sciatica here – What is Sciatica?
Frequent Questions
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Book an Appointment
If you have any questions re Sciatica treatment call our clinic in London (Victoria) or send us a message via the website.
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