3 Things you need to know about your Sciatica

Sciatica is a very common clinical symptom – in other words lots of people come in with what they call sciatica. In fact they can often come in and say that they have been diagnosed with Sciatica..hmmmm.

Sciatica is a symptom…. Period… It is a word to describe nerve pain, (so technically could occur in the arm or the leg), but people commonly use it when pain travels down the leg.

Now, over the last 17 years as an osteopath, and clinic supervisor/clinician, I have had to educate patients on the term sciatica,and argued many a time with students on this topic.

So I wanted to help ensure that you, the patient are more informed.

So here is the conundrum. Knowing you have sciatica is not enough. It does not help you or the practitioner.

The better question to ask is WHAT IS CAUSING THE SCIATICA?

You see, the key is understanding that sciatica is CAUSED by something – and THAT “something” is what you should be diagnosed with. The sciatica is merely a result of “IT”. A sign that something is wrong. Nerve Pain does not occur on its own and for no reason.

So here are the three most important things you need to know about your sciatica. Without this information it’s next to impossible to gain control over it and or manage it properly.

1. Firstly know what sciatica really is;
2. Second know the different ways it can present, so you never miss it, and
3. Thirdly know exactly what is causing it.

I have always stated that having the correct diagnosis is the absolute key to introducing the right treatment and or answering the question of how long will the recovery take. Without this a practitioner, and consequently you the patient are going in blind. This can be very costly financially, emotionally and physically.

So when someone comes in with sciatica, I want to know ways more about your symptoms to ensure that (a) it really is sciatica and not something else; and (b), why you have the sciatica.

What is sciatica

This includes leg pain due to lower back nerve or what is called the sciatic nerve being aggravated or stimulated to produce pain. Put simply the sciatic nerve is actually a bundle of nerves coming from the lower back area, that are encased into a sheath – so it looks like one bigger/thicker nerve. It takes its origins from the lower back spinal nerves and then travels all the way down from the back through the buttock, and the leg and then foot, giving off branches and dividing along the way.

Symptoms of sciatica

When patients have real sciatica it can include symptoms in the following regions – buttock, hip, hamstring area, upperleg, calf area, ankle area, or foot pain. It can also include pain in all those areas either separately (one area) or simultaneously in more areas. Generally, the lower down the sciatica travels the bigger the problem/aggravation.

The pain can be sharp, knife like, achey, pulling, throbbing, all over, or burning to name a few.

Causes of Sciatica

These can most commonly include problems in the Sacroiliac Joint, Lower back joints / facets, Disc problems (From a disc bulge, to a degenerative disc, to a disc prolapse, all irritating or pressing on the spinal nerve), or God forbid a type of space occupying lesion (something that shouldn’t be there) pressing on the spinal nerves or the nerve itself. I have been privy to seeing all of these conditions and on many occasions, and they all present in similar ways to the untrained eye.

So it is your practitioner’s role to use their skill, experience and knowledge to make sure they work this out for you. It should never be assumed.

So I hope that you can now see how important sciatica really is.

Let’s start to appreciate this very common problem in our community and give it the respect it deserves. Sciatic is a very big deal if you get it wrong. Never underestimate sciatica or use the term “it’s just sciatica”, because it can be the signs of so much more.

So as a patient:

1. Make sure what you have is in fact sciatica
2. Make sure you are clear on why your nerve is angry / what’s causing it.

Only then can you be empowered with key information to help yourself manage your own condition.

If you are unclear on either of the above two points, I encourage you to go back to your practitioner and ask the above questions. If you would like a second opinion or examination from our team to help you moving forwards, please call 9338 2585.