Sciatica & Leg Pain

Sciatica affects about five percent of adults in the U.S. and is one of the most common causes of chronic disability.

The sciatic nerves are the largest nerves of the body (about the size of your thumb in diameter) and run down the back of each leg. Sciatica is a severe pain in the leg caused by compression, irritation, or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Often the pain will come and go. It can sometimes be a dull ache or numbness in the upper leg or it may be an intense “shooting pain” down the leg into the foot and toes.

Causes

Sciatica can be caused by prolonged sitting, working out or running, or just basic movements such as walking, bending, or lifting. Any twisting motion can cause sciatica to flare up. Back pain may occur prior to sciatica itself. One of the most common causes of sciatic leg pain is a vertebral subluxation. It can be accompanied by the bulging or herniation of the soft, pulpy discs that separate each spinal bone. This can irritate or put pressure on the sciatic nerve roots as they leave the spinal cord, which can result in intense pain shooting down either or both legs.

Treatment

Sciatica, like other health problems that can be traced to the spine, often responds dramatically to the restoration of normal spinal function through chiropractic care.