The condition known as sciatica is often used to describe any pain going down the leg. If you have lower back pain, it is likely you may suffer from leg pain at some point. The term sciatica while often used to describe these symptoms may not be the correct diagnosis.

The sciatic nerve is made of several spinal nerves combining together as they exit the spine. This nerve travels down the posterior thigh and splits into 2 nerves at the knee. Pain caused by sciatic irritation most often starts in the lower back and radiates down the back of the leg and into the calf or foot. Sensations may include burning, stabbing, shooting and numbness. If the pain is high enough difficulty with movement or straightening the leg is often seen.

Having a herniated or bulging disc is the most common cause of sciatic nerve irritation. This can be caused by direct contact from the disc material or just inflammation from the disc causing chemical irritation.

The accurate diagnosis of sciatica is quite easy to make. A series of orthopedic and neurological tests are performed to determine the involvement of the sciatic nerve. If the diagnosis is made then I usually order an MRI to determine the cause.

Most treatments for sciatica are geared more towards symptom relief instead of actually fixing the problem. That’s why I use spinal decompression in most cases for the treatment of sciatica. As you recall sciatica is usually caused by direct pressure or irritation of the sciatic nerve from the discs in the spine. Spinal decompression is the best way to deal with this as it actually heals the disc and reduces the pressure on the nerves.

If you have been diagnosed with sciatica then going through the necessary steps to confirm a diagnosis and move forward with a proactive treatment plan is your best chance of long term recovery. Many patients deal with it on their own and end up suffering repeat episodes, because the cause has not been addressed.