Sciatica & Leg Pain

The term “sciatica” refers to an irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is located at the base of your spine. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body and is about the size of your thumb. It branches from the spinal cord in the lower lumbar region and all of the branches come together to form one very large nerve that extends all the way down the back of your leg to your big toe. Not all leg pain is sciatica, but most sciatica involves leg pain.

Sciatica sufferers often complain of severe, often unbearable pain along the path of the nerve, usually along the back of the legs and thighs, and even possibly into the foot and toes. Apart from leg pain, if you suffer from sciatica you may also feel numbness, tingling, pins-and-needles and/or burning into one or both legs, ironically, the painful leg may also feel numb.

 

Sciatica is understandably excruciating for most sufferers. Sleeping, sitting, walking, bending, turning or standing maybe difficult or even impossible. It is quite difficult to find any type of comfortable position to relieve the pain.

Chiropractic care appears to have the most profound affect on the condition known as sciatica. For decades, chiropractors and patients have observed benefits in chiropractic spinal adjustments to relieve the pressure being placed on the sciatic nerve. Many sufferers of sciatica have experienced dramatic relief of their pain after Chiropractic care.1

The research even states that “Many sufferers of sciatica and leg pain have found that Chiropractic care was superior to traction and pain injections, often saving them from spinal surgery.”2-5

 

• Johnson, E.W. Sciatic nerve palsey following delivery. Postgrad Med 1961, 30(5)
• 2. Livingston, M. Spinal Manipulation: A 1 year follow up study. The Canadian Family Physician, July 1969: 35-39.
• Mathews, J.A. et al. Back Pain and Sciatica British Journal of Rheumatology, 1987 26:416-423
• Osterbauer, PJ &Fuhr, A.W. Treatment of chronic sciatica by mechanical force, manually assisted, short lever adjusting. Proceedings of the Consortium for Chiropractic Research Conference on Research & Education.1992. Palm Springs.
• Cox J.M. & Shreiner, S. Chiropractic manipulation in low back pain & Sciatica:Statistical Data on the diagnosis, treatment & response of 576 cases. JMPT. 1982 7:1-11