Sciatica and Leg Pain
by Dr. Scott J. Heun

The Sciatic Nerve

The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest in the body. It is made up of five nerves that leave the spinal cord from the lower spinal column, join in the pelvic area and then travel down the leg. As this nerve travels down the thigh into the leg, it branches into many smaller nerves to reach the muscles and joints of the thigh, knees, calf, ankle, foot and toes. Branches from these same vertebral levels also supply the contents of the lower abdomen, the bladder and male and female genitalia, and the skin covering both lower extremities.

What is Sciatica?

Generally, but not always, in the initial stage of this condition, the first thing to develop is back pain often related to an injury to the lower back. Often an apparently minor stretch or bend in the wrong direction will bring on the "attack".

Remember, pain is generally the last thing to show up and the first thing to leave, and not the best indicator of whether you are healthy or not.

Once the swelling of the spinal joint tissues sets in, the next stage is swelling of the large sciatic nerve. When the sciatic nerve is inflamed, the condition is called sciatica.

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The Pain Varies

Sciatica sufferers often have severe pain along the sciatic nerve path, usually in the back of the leg and thigh, sometimes to the ankle, foot, and toe(s). There may be searing, sharp pain but also paresthesia--strange nerve feelings such as pins and needles, burning, tingling, prickling, sensations or tenderness. Ironically, with all the pain and nerve sensations, the leg might feel numb!

To complicate matters, the location of sciatic pain may vary. Though it is usually in the back of the legs or thighs, the pain can also exist in the front or side of the legs, or the hips. For some hapless sufferers, the pain is in both legs (bilateral sciatica). This may mean your lower disc has been seriously damaged. You may still be able to be helped with chiropractic methods, though your condition very well may respond more slowly.

The quality of the pain may vary as well. There may be constant pain but then it may let up for hours or even days. The intensity may vary, it may ache, or be knifelike.

Sometimes postural movements like lying down or changing positions, affect the pain and sometimes they don't. In this way, sciatica is like a toothache or earache, always there no matter what you do.

In severe cases, sciatica causes a loss of reflexes or even a shrinking of the calf and or thigh muscles. To sciatica sufferers, a good night's sleep may be a thing of the past. Simple things like walking, bending, turning, sitting, or standing can be difficult or impossible.

Causes of Sciatica

Like most other conditions, sciatica has a wide variety of causes. However, there is often a direct link to spinal misalignment. A misaligned spine, or a protruded or ruptured disc can irritate the sciatic nerve, which may result in sciatica. Often, overstretching or abnormal posture will cause the spasm of a small muscle in the gluteal area (the piriformis), which can cause the pain of sciatica.

Sciatica has also been related to various non-spinal conditions. Advanced diabetes can case neuritis or inflammation of the sciatic nerve, arthritis of the spine can irritate the sciatic nerve, constipation, tumors and even vitamin deficiencies have been linked to sciatica. Physical trauma has also been know to cause sciatica.

Cases of sciatica have been reported following automobile accidents, sports injuries and even childbirth, usually due to spinal or pelvic misalignments or strains. Backache or hip problems may occur long before the sciatica symptoms show up. In these instances lower back may also occur.

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The Medical Approach

The medical approach to sciatica pain is to treat the symptoms using painkillers, muscle relaxers and various orthopedic treatments which may include traction, physical therapy and other therapeutic measures.

Sciatica is particularly frustrating to the medical doctor because in many cases even strong painkilling drugs bring little or no relief. Temporary relief may be obtained from injections of painkillers directly into the nerve roots. Drug dependency may develop with some patients.

One should always remember, that even if medicines reduce or eliminate the pain of sciatica, the problem still exists. When there is a mechanical problem, using a chemical solution is not logical.

If the pain is not relieved, orthopedic or neurosurgery may be resorted to as a last resort. However, a study done by the American Public Health Association found that surgery is effective in only 1 out of 100 cases after 5 years time. Therefore, one can conclude that surgery should always be your last resort.

Recent studies have indicated traditional medical approaches are far less effective than Chiropractic care.

The Chiropractic Approach

Chiropractors correct poor spinal alignment using spinal adjustments to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves, joints, and discs.

Throughout our lives, we have our teeth checked, blood pressure checked and eyes checked but do we ever have our spines checked?

Spinal exams are important because if the spine becomes misaligned or distorted it could damage (impinge) the nerves it is designed to protect. The impinged (some say pinched) nerves can upset the delicate workings of the nervous system, weaken the body and set the stage for disease, pain and body malfunction.

Just as we get our car's alignment checked and corrected, so we should get our spine's alignment checked out and corrected if problems are detected.

Is Chiropractic spinal care a treatment for sciatica?
No, it is a procedure for the analysis and correction of spinal nerve stress. By eliminating the abnormal stress and strain upon the spine, and therefore the spinal nerves, the sciatic nerve can then heal.

And yes. If you do have sciatica, a Chiropractic spinal adjustment is very badly needed. Every sciatica sufferer needs a healthy spine.

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