CONDITION DETAILS

Sciatica is a symptom of a problem which means the cause is coming from somewhere else. Symptoms of sciatica usually include pain in the low back, buttock, hip and leg. Numbness or tingling, “pins and needles”, weakness, and burning or sharp pain have all been reported. With a thorough his­tory and examination, the cause of the sciatic pain can be determined. Causes usually include muscle strains, injuries, vertebral subluxations, inflammation, stenosis, spondylolisthesis and disc bulges or herniations.

Length of treatment depends on the cause of the sciatic pain and typically the mechanism of injury, but results can typically be seen within a few visits. Along with treatment, your doctor may recommend activities you can do at home to help such as walking, stretching, using ice/heat packs, or giving you work modifications/limitations. Occasionally, further testing is necessary to diagnose the cause of the sciatic pain, such as an x-ray or MRI exam.