Sciatica & nerve pain

Understanding sciatica & nerve pain

Sciatica isn't a diagnosis in itself — it's a set of symptoms describing irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through the buttock and down the leg. The irritation can come from a disc, a narrowed nerve passage, or tight muscle along the route. Because the causes differ, so should the treatment — which is why a proper assessment comes first.

Common signs & symptoms

Pain radiating from the lower back or buttock down the leg
Burning, electric or shooting pain along the back of the thigh
Pins and needles or numbness in the leg or foot
Pain that worsens with sitting, coughing or sneezing
Weakness in the affected leg

When to seek urgent care: Numbness in the groin or inner thighs, changes to bladder or bowel control, or rapidly progressing leg weakness are emergencies — seek immediate medical care.

Common causes

Disc irritation

A bulging or herniated disc in the lower back can press on or chemically irritate the nerve root.

Foraminal narrowing

The passages nerves travel through can narrow with age-related change, irritating the nerve.

Piriformis involvement

The sciatic nerve passes close to the piriformis muscle in the buttock — tightness here can mimic or contribute to sciatica.

Prolonged sitting and load

Sustained compression and poor lifting mechanics commonly aggravate the underlying cause.

How we help

Your care starts with a thorough consultation and physical assessment to identify what's driving your symptoms. From there, we build a plan around you — which may include chiropractic adjustments (traditional or low-force), soft tissue therapy, targeted home exercises, and practical advice for your daily routine. We review your progress regularly, explain everything in plain language, and refer you for imaging or to other practitioners whenever that's the better path.

Good to know

Sciatica & nerve pain: your questions answered

How long does sciatica take to get better?

Most cases improve significantly within 4–6 weeks with the right management, though some take longer. What matters is trending in the right direction — we track your progress at every visit and adjust the plan if you're not improving as expected.

Is sciatica the same as a pinched nerve?

Often, yes — 'pinched nerve' usually describes a compressed nerve root, which is one cause of sciatica. But sciatic-type pain can also come from muscle-related irritation further down the path, which is treated quite differently. That's why we assess before we treat.

Should I get an MRI for sciatica?

Not usually as a first step. Imaging is valuable when symptoms are severe, progressive, or not responding to care — or when red flags are present. If your presentation warrants it, we'll refer you and explain exactly why.