Sciatica Specialist

What is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body, starting in the lower back and extending down through the leg. When this nerve gets irritated, you can feel pain in your lower back, which can sometimes radiate down your leg and even past your knee. Often, sciatica is caused by the piriformis muscle putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sometimes, irritation is caused by a lumbar disc herniation that pinches the nerve.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

The most telltale sign of sciatica is pain that radiates through the lower back and down into the buttocks. Sometimes this feeling is characterized as a numbing or tingling sensation, maybe even a burning feeling. If the pain extends down the buttocks, it can be felt in the back of the thigh or in the hip. Oftentimes, sciatica makes walking difficult or painful. Additionally, if you only find relief in lying down, you might have sciatica.

How is sciatica usually diagnosed?

Beyond using your symptoms to diagnose sciatica, medical professionals may also use your medical history or a physical exam to address your concerns. Certain maneuvers usually let these professionals know whether you have sciatica, and the experts at BodyWorks Medical Center are well trained in this process.

How can BodyWorks Medical Center help?

Instead of relying on pain medication, which only masks the pain and doesn’t heal the root cause, the doctors at BodyWorks Medical Center work to identify the condition causing the sciatica and focus on healing the body. Once the true root cause of the sciatic pain is identified, the doctors will create a customized treatment plan to address the specific needs of the individual patient. Patients may be provided with a variety of treatments including chiropractic adjustments and manual therapies to help the muscles and soft tissues relax. Chiropractic adjustments can correct spinal alignment and release any pressure caused by slightly out of place spinal discs. Patients may receive trigger point injections which provide immediate relief of pain and can relax the muscle spasms that put pressure on the sciatic nerve. The doctors provide care without relying on pain medication. The philosophy of care at BodyWorks Medical Center is to heal the body, improve function, and prevent injury in the future.