Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica & Leg Pain in Bradford

Sciatica is pain that runs from the lower back or buttock down the back of the leg, sometimes as far as the foot. It can be sharp, burning or electric, and often comes with tingling or numbness. At WellCare Medical in Bradford, chiropractic treatment for sciatica starts with working out where the nerve is being irritated, because the right treatment depends on the cause.

The sciatic nerve is formed by nerve roots that leave the lower spine and run through the buttock into the leg. It can be irritated at several points:

• a bulging or herniated disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve root
• stiff or arthritic joints in the lower spine narrowing the space around the nerve
• tight muscles deep in the buttock, such as the piriformis
• less commonly, a problem in the hip or pelvis that mimics sciatica

Not all leg pain is sciatica. Pain that stays above the knee is often referred from the joints or muscles of the lower back and hip, and it is treated differently.

• gentle, low-force adjustments and mobilization of the lower back and pelvis
• positions and movements that take pressure off the nerve, which you can use at home
• soft-tissue therapy for tight buttock and hip muscles
• nerve-mobility exercises, followed by hip and core strengthening as the pain settles
• advice on sitting, driving, lifting and sleeping while the nerve calms down

Your chiropractor asks where the pain travels and what brings it on, then tests your movement, reflexes, muscle strength and sensation. These tests show which nerve root is involved and how irritated it is. You will be told what the findings mean and what to expect over the coming weeks.

Go to an emergency department immediately if you lose control of your bladder or bowels, have numbness around your groin or inner thighs, or have weakness in a leg or foot that is getting worse. See your doctor if the pain is severe, in both legs, or not improving.

Many people do best with a combination of treatments. Massage for sciatic pain eases the buttock and hip muscles, our physiotherapists guide strengthening (see physiotherapy), and acupuncture is an option for persistent nerve pain. If your leg pain began after a collision, see car accident rehabilitation. For general lower back pain, read about chiropractic treatment for back pain.