What is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest of all the body’s nerves. It runs from the spinal column near the pelvis down each leg and can be as wide as your thumb. The sciatic nerve is made up of 5 smaller nerves that branch into the thigh, knee, calf, ankle and foot.
Sciatica (pronounced “sigh – attic – uh” usually results from irritation or compression of the nerve as it exits the spine. The condition most commonly results from spinal degeneration or a herniated disc.
Symptoms: Sciatica is characterized by pain, numbness, and/or weakness in the lower extremity. Commonly, pain and numbness are located at the calf, foot, or back of the thigh. This is often preceded by lower back pain. Pain can either be dull and aching or can be a shooting pain down the leg all the way to the toes. This pain can last for several days or weeks or it can come and go.
How We Can Help: Getting you back to normal as soon as possible is our number one goal. To do that, we will likely recommend one or more of the following:
- Joint manipulation to gently restore movement.
- Physical Therapy modalities to ease your muscle tightness, pain and swelling.
- Myofascial release to remove your long-standing tightness.
- Therapeutic stretching to restore your Sciatica is characterized by pain, numbness, and/or weakness in the lower extremity