“True” Sciatica: Do you have it?

Written by Chiropractor Emily White

Lots of things can cause pain down the back of your leg, but how do you know if its Sciatica or something else? The definition of “true” Sciatica is radiating leg pain caused by inflammation or compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve - 90% of the time, this is caused by a bulging or herniated disc in your lower back.

Signs you may have Sciatica

• Pain in the low back and leg, but the pain in your leg is worse

• Pain down one leg that travels below your knee to the foot or toes

• Numbness or tingling travelling down the leg

• The leg or foot feels weak

What can you do about it?

First, it’s a good idea to be sure that it is Sciatica causing your pain and not something else. Your Chiropractor will carry out a thorough assessment and perform some tests to identify the cause of the problem. Sciatica and many other causes of lower back and leg pain can be managed effectively, once we know what we’re dealing with.