How Do I Know If I Have Sciatica?

Have you ever rolled out of bed in the morning or stood up and felt pain shooting from your lower back down your leg? Maybe you've got lower back pain and numbness... or you're experiencing a prickling, electric, burning feeling that only affects one leg. If you have any of these symptoms, you might be experiencing sciatica.

You're definitely not alone; about 40 percent of people experience sciatic pain at some point. Sciatica is more common as we get older, especially if you have other lower back conditions, smoke, are overweight, or live a lifestyle that doesn’t include physical activity.

Sciatica pain can sometimes go away on its own. But usually, it’s being caused by some other condition. And without fixing the root cause of the pain, it will likely come back. So how do you know if it’s sciatica?

Symptoms of Sciatica

The sciatic nerve – the body's longest and thickest – is composed of several nerve roots that stretch from the gluteal/buttocks area to your feet on each side of your body. If there is pressure put on that nerve, pain will “shoot” down from your lower back through your leg. 

It could be sciatic pain if you’re experiencing any of the following:

• Shooting pain from the gluteal (butt) area down one leg. It can be either leg.
• Sensations of tingling, buzzing, burning, electricity in the lower back, buttock, and leg
• "Pins and needles" feeling accompanied by back pain or pain in the back of the leg
• Pain that worsens in certain positions
• Weakness or numbness in the lower back, buttock, leg, or foot

What Causes Sciatica?

Injury to the sciatic nerve itself is relatively rare. This type of pain is most often caused by pinching, compression, or irritation of the nerve from another condition in the lower back. If you have a bulging or herniated disc in the lower back, sciatica may be a side effect of the disc damage.

Other root causes of sciatica may include: 

• Degenerative disc disease: weakened discs that irritate and inflame nerve roots
• Isthmic spondylolisthesis: small stress fractures that lead to pinched nerves
• Lumbar spinal stenosis: a narrowed spinal canal, often associated with aging and arthritis
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: irritated spinal joints that affect the sciatic nerve
• Trauma or injury to the sciatic nerve or lumbar spine
• Tumors that compress the sciatic nerve
• Pregnancy: Lower back pressure from the baby's weight can pinch the sciatic nerve

There are some risk factors that make you more likely to develop sciatica. If you have one or more of the following, and you’re experiencing shooting pain down a leg, you may want to see a chiropractor for an assessment. Risk factors include:

• Age - over 40 is when our spine starts to decompress and the shell around the gel inside the spinal discs can be more likely to bulge or leak out of the disc.
• Being overweight or obese puts pressure on the discs making them more likely to herniate or bulge.
• Weak abdominal and back muscles (your "core") can make it where your back is doing all the work to keep you upright. Be sure you do exercises for your core so that you can bend and move better in general. 
• Previous injuries to your spine or lower back. As you age the damage may result in a spinal condition, including arthritis, that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.
• Osteoarthritis of the spine is usually related to age, but can be the result of a previous injury as well. There is no cure for spinal arthritis, but you can see a chiropractor for relief 
• If your job requires you to lift heavy objects, or twist and bend a lot you may be more likely to damage a disc in your lower spine. On the other hand, sitting too long and not sitting correctly at a desk can cause pressure on your spine that starts to put pressure on your sciatic nerve.
• Smoking. If we’ve said it once we’ve said it a thousand times, smoking is not good for your health. Lower back pain is a known side effect of smoking. 

Depending on the cause, sciatica pain may develop gradually over time — such as with lumbar spinal stenosis. Or sciatic pain can happen immediately, as is often the case with a herniated disk. 

When to See a Chiropractor for Sciatica

For most people with mild sciatica, symptoms go away on their own after a few days or or after adjusting a behavior, such as lifting form. Resting your back is a good place to start if you’re feeling sciatic pain.

If sciatica doesn’t start to feel better on its own in a week or so, you should talk to a chiropractor to find out what is causing the problem. 

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Sciatica Pain

When sciatica pain isn’t going away on its own after a week or two of rest and self-care, a chiropractor can help by looking at your spine to see what could be the cause. In many cases, sciatic pain that doesn’t go away on its own is caused by a herniated disk. Even if it’s bulging, but not herniated, there are things that can be done to treat the source of the problem. 

• Nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy: Gentle, motorized spinal traction that reduces pressure on the nerve and helps relieve pain
• Cold laser therapy: This FDA-approved, low-intensity laser treatment for back and joint pain reduces inflammation and pressure which can reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve
• Massage therapy: Applying appropriate pressure helps relieve muscle tightness that could be making sciatic pain worse. Massage also helps increase blood flow which is important for healing.

For sciatica treatment in The Woodlands area, we're here to help you find sciatica relief.