How many times have you heard someone say “My Sciatica is acting up”? Chiropractors hear this all the time!  However, there tends to be some mis-understanding with the statement above. 

You see, sciatica is not a diagnosis but a symptom of another problem.  The sciatic nerve is a very large nerve that exits the lower spine and travels down the back of your leg and branches into smaller nerves that supply the lower legs and feet.  Pain from the nerve can occur anywhere along the course of the nerve, but it will commonly present as a sharp shooting electric type pain that travels all the way from the back down the leg to the foot.  Numbness and tingling may also be present throughout the lower leg as well. These sciatic symptoms are often the result of compression or irritation somewhere along the course of the nerve and can be the result of multiple different reasons or diagnoses. 

If your “Sciatica is killing you” it is important to find the root cause so that it can be treated appropriately.  If you or someone you know has been suffering with sciatic symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out.   After a thorough history and assessment, a treatment plan will be developed specifically for you.