Sciatica is a condition that causes lower back and hip pain, along with tingling in the leg or foot. It’s caused by the sciatic nerve getting irritated when a herniated disc or other issue compresses it. The pain is often sharp and radiates from the low back down the buttock, thigh, leg and calf to the foot.

Normally, a chiropractic diagnosis involves careful review of a patient’s history and a thorough physical and neurological examination. The first step is to determine the underlying cause. This can be a misaligned spine, herniated or bulging disc, spinal cord injury or other disorder that compresses the nerve. The chiropractor will then formulate a treatment plan to restore proper alignment of the spine and/or discs, which reduces nerve compression.

Once the treatment plan is in place, a number of techniques are used to treat sciatica. These include:

Spinal manipulation: This is a gentle treatment that realigns the spine and pelvis, increasing spinal mobility and relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation): This treatment uses a mild electric current to relieve muscle spasm and reduce inflammation. Massage: Deep tissue pressure on trigger points, or knots, relaxes the muscles and reduces pain.

Exercise is another important part of the treatment regimen for sciatica. Your chiropractor will design a safe, effective exercise program for you that will improve your strength and flexibility and reduce pain. In addition, your chiropractor may recommend acupressure, acupuncture or cold laser therapy to further alleviate your symptoms. sciatica chiropractic