What is Sciatica?
For most of us "sciatica" is used to describe symptoms that involve pain or numbness that refers down the leg. Which is to some degree correct! True sciatica involves irritation of the "sciatic nerve" which will commonly involve pain, numbness or tingling in the buttock, back of thigh, calf and/or foot. A lot of times people will also be dealing with lower back pain at the same time.
Surprisingly, "sciatica" is not a true diagnosis; it is an umbrella term used to describe the symptoms above. The key to managing sciatica successfully is identifying the true diagnosis or cause, so that you can treat it effectively and efficiently.
The first step to getting help with your sciatica symptoms is to undergo a thorough assessment to find out which structures, muscles, ligaments or joints are affected and how/if it is irritating the sciatic nerve. Good news is, most cases of sciatica do respond well to a well-rounded treatment plan, based on movement, exercise, and manual therapy.
What Causes Sciatica
Although it can seem like sciatica can come out of nowhere suddenly, and sometimes it does, in most cases it is a combination of a few different factors that build up over time. Some common causes include:
- Disc bulges or herniations in the lower back
- Sacroilliac joint sprains/dysfunction
- Tightness in the deep gluteal muscles and piriformis
- Osteoarthritis in the spine and hip
- Hobbies or work that involve repetitive bending and lifting
- Prolonged sitting
- Previous lower back and hip injuries
Sciatica Treatment in Burlington
At The Recovery Room Chiropractic and Wellness, the foundation of all treatment is a thorough and comprehensive assessment to best determine the cause of your symptoms. We take a detailed health history, physical and functional exam, and review any advanced imaging as necessary. When we come up with our best diagnosis, we can guide you through what our recommended treatment plan may be.
Most treatment plans incorporate a few different types of treatments or modalities. Chiropractic adjustments and manual therapy can help decrease pain, improve mobility, and take stress off the irritated nerve. Various forms of exercise and stretching will help deliver more long-lasting results when done consistently over a longer period of time.
Education is also a huge part of the recovery process. We strive to have every patient informed on what, why, and how during their recovery process. If you understand what the problem is, and why the nerve is being irritated, we can then start implementing some lifestyle changes or habits that may be necessary to prevent future re-occurrences or flare ups.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sciatica
Recovery time can be different for everyone. Recovery depends on a few factors such as how long the symptoms have been there, what is actually casuing the symptoms, and your daily activities and/or job demands. After getting evaluated and assessed your provider will be able to give you a better estimate of recovery time.
Most of the time the answer is yes, like most conditions, recovery time improves if we stay active. However there may be certain activities or movements that your practitioner will sugeest you limit to the amount of irritation on the sciatic nerve.
Most of the time when symtpoms first start, imaging is not necessary to begin treatment. A thorough physical assessment can help identify and direct care without advanced imaging such as x-ray or MRI. However, if your symptoms persist or worsen beyond what is expected for your condition than we may recomended obtaining imaging.
Dr. Phil Wessel
Chiropractic, Custom Orthotics Fitting
Dr. Phil Wessel is a chiropractor with over seven years of experience helping patients in Burlington and Oakville recover from injury and stay active. Throughout his career, he noticed that many common muscle, tendon, joint, and spine injuries were often treated without addressing the underlying causes, leading to ongoing pain and recurring problems.
This realization led him to create The Recovery Room Chiropractic & Wellness—a clinic focused on providing effective, evidence-informed care for active adults and athletes who want to get back to the activities they love.
Dr. Phil’s treatment approach combines chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy, shockwave therapy, and rehabilitation exercise to help patients recover from both acute and chronic injuries. He has a particular interest in treating tendon-related conditions, including Achilles tendinopathy, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff injuries, and jumper’s knee.
A graduate of the University of Guelph and New York Chiropractic College, Dr. Phil understands first hand the importance of staying active. Outside the clinic, you’ll find him spending time with his wife and two children, playing pickleball, or enjoying a round of golf whenever he gets the chance.
Helping active people recover, perform, and stay in the game.
The Recovery Room Chiropractic and Wellness
5041 Fairview St,Burlington, ON
L7L 4W8 View Staff & Treatments
