Have you ever experienced a shooting pain down your leg that just won’t go away? That’s sciatica, a condition that’s more common than you might think.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping numerous individuals in Port Moody find relief from their sciatica. It’s a condition that’s often misunderstood, but I’m here to shed some light on it.
The term “Sciatica” has a somewhat precise definition, but the general population uses it to mean several different things.
The proper medical definition of Sciatica is pain down the back of the leg. It is often caused by compression of spinal nerves caused by conditions in the spine such as disc herniations and misalignments. Sciatica is usually burning or tingling but can also be sharp and achy.
However, lay people often use ” sciatica ” to refer to dull pain in the hip or buttock. This pain is so common, and this name is used so often that even doctors are starting to refer to myofascial problems in the hip and buttocks as “sciatica.”
What is the Sciatic Nerve?
Another source of confusion is that the sciatic nerve travels along the back of the leg. The sciatic nerve can be relevant in cases of sciatica (as I will explain later), but not always. The sciatic nerve, like the term “sciatica,” is named so because of its position in the back of the leg. So, sciatica may have nothing to do with the sciatic nerve. Sciatica could be caused by another nerve altogether or even involve no nerve at all.
What Makes You Vulnerable to Sciatica
All nerves branch off the spinal cord at sensitive areas called nerve roots. When the nerve root exits the spinal column’s protection, it becomes covered in a protective myelin sheath that insulates the nerve. The spinal bones and joints protect the nerve at the nerve root, so myelin is unnecessary. However, when we have spinal problems, the nerve root can be easily irritated. In fact, according to a study at the University of Colorado in 1974, it takes only the pressure of a dime on a nerve root to decrease nerve activity by 60% over five minutes.
What problems cause nerve irritation?
Osteoarthritis, disc herniations, and disc bulges are typical problems that irritate nerve roots. Even sprains to the lumbar spine can create inflammatory proteins that irritate the nerve root. In fact, even small misalignments in the spine can cause significant changes to the behaviour of nerves and muscles around the spine.
The nerve root is by far the most sensitive area of a nerve, and it is very vulnerable to irritation. Because of this, the spine is the area of primary concern when taking care of patients with sciatica.
Can the Sciatic Nerve be Involved?
But, alas, sometimes the sciatic nerve is involved. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve in the back of the leg that intersects with many muscles that can irritate it. The piriformis, biceps femoris, and hiatus of the soleus are usual tight areas where the sciatic nerve may be affected by friction. When the nerve is not moving fluidly, it tends to become under tension. This tension can travel up the nerve to the spine, where the nerve root is easily irritated.
What to do About Sciatica
Chiropractic adjustments: Chiropractors are specially trained to check the movement and alignment of every joint of the spine and maintain the health and integrity of the spine to decrease the likelihood of osteoarthritis, disc bulges, and disc herniations. They are also trained to evaluate the behaviour of spine muscles and correct spinal posture and alignment. Regular chiropractic adjustments, at least once per month or as recommended, are your best protection to prevent sciatica.
Active Release Techniques: specific protocols have been developed to free the movement of the sciatic nerve and the muscles of the hips, lower back and pelvis. Active Release Techniques (ART) is a patented system of techniques to address soft tissue injuries by improving the texture and movement of muscles, nerves, ligaments and joints.
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy: Class 4 (deep tissue) laser therapy decreases pain and stimulates faster healing at the cellular level. Laser therapy significantly helps sciatica.
Custom Foot Orthotics: Eighty percent of people have structural problems in their feet that can contribute to issues like sciatica. Schedule a free orthotics consultation (via the online scheduler) to see if orthotics can help you.
Are you not sure if we can help? Schedule an initial visit, and we will discuss your health concerns, perform a thorough examination, and send you a report of findings. Book an appointment today.
