Sciatica can make sitting, walking, working, sleeping, and exercising difficult. Symptoms may begin in the lower back or buttock and travel into the thigh, calf, foot, or toes.

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness in Vancouver, we assess what may be causing your sciatic symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan based on your examination, neurological findings, lifestyle, and goals.

Depending on your condition, care may include chiropractic treatment, spinal decompression, mobility exercises, and active rehabilitation with our on-site kinesiologist.

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What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica describes pain or neurological symptoms that travel along the pathway of the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is formed by nerve roots from the lower spine and travels through the buttock and into the leg.

Sciatica is not one specific disease. It is a pattern of symptoms that can result from several different conditions affecting the lower back or nearby nerves.

That is why treatment should begin with a proper assessment rather than assuming that every case of leg pain has the same cause.

Common Symptoms of Sciatica

Sciatica often affects one side of the body.

Symptoms may include:

• Pain beginning in the lower back or buttock

• Pain travelling into the thigh or calf

• Burning or electric-like leg pain

• Tingling or pins and needles

• Numbness in the leg or foot

• Weakness in the leg, ankle, or foot

• Pain aggravated by prolonged sitting

• Pain with bending or lifting

• Difficulty standing or walking comfortably

• Symptoms extending into the toes

Some people have significant leg symptoms with very little low-back pain.

What Causes Sciatica?

Several conditions may irritate or compress the nerves that contribute to the sciatic nerve.

Lumbar Disc Herniation

A spinal disc may bulge or herniate and irritate a nearby nerve root.

This can produce pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels into the leg.

Degenerative Changes

Changes in the discs and joints of the lower back can sometimes reduce the space available around a spinal nerve.

Foraminal Narrowing

Spinal nerves exit through openings called neural foramina.

If these openings become narrowed, the nerve may become irritated.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis involves narrowing around the spinal canal or nerve pathways.

Some patients notice symptoms particularly when standing or walking for longer periods.

Other Musculoskeletal Conditions

Hip, pelvic, muscular, or other conditions can sometimes produce symptoms that resemble sciatica.

A proper examination helps determine whether the sciatic nerve or a lumbar nerve root is likely involved.

Sciatica vs. Lumbar Radiculopathy

The terms are related but are not exactly the same.

Sciatica describes symptoms travelling along the sciatic nerve pathway.

Lumbar radiculopathy refers more specifically to irritation or dysfunction of a nerve root in the lumbar spine.

A patient with lumbar radiculopathy may experience sciatica, but not every pain felt in the buttock or leg is caused by lumbar radiculopathy.

[LEARN MORE ABOUT LUMBAR RADICULOPATHY]

How We Assess Sciatica

At your first appointment, we want to understand both where your symptoms are occurring and why they may be happening.

Your assessment may include:

Spinal movement • Strength • Reflexes • Sensation • Nerve tension testing • Hip mobility • Orthopedic tests • Functional movement

We may also ask:

• When did the symptoms start?

• Where does the pain travel?

• Do you have numbness or tingling?

• Have you noticed weakness?

• What positions make symptoms better or worse?

• Does sitting aggravate the pain?

• Have you had previous back injuries?

• What activities are you trying to return to?

These findings help determine whether your symptoms appear appropriate for conservative care.

Chiropractic Care for Sciatica

For selected patients, chiropractic care may be incorporated into a conservative treatment plan.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your symptoms.

It may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Controlled spinal or pelvic adjustments may be used when clinically appropriate to improve comfortable joint movement.

Gentle Mobilization

If the nerve is highly irritated, lower-force techniques may initially be more appropriate.

Soft-Tissue Treatment

Muscles around the lower back, hips, and pelvis often become tight or guarded when pain is present.

Mobility Exercises

Certain exercises may help restore comfortable movement and gradually improve tolerance for everyday activities.

We modify treatment according to your symptoms and response.

Spinal Decompression for Sciatica

For selected patients with disc-related or nerve-related symptoms, mechanical spinal decompression may be considered.

At ProSpine, we use the Chattanooga Triton DTS® traction system with the Triton 6E table.

The system allows lumbar traction to be individualized according to:

Traction force • Position • Hold time • Rest time • Treatment duration • Patient tolerance

The goal is to provide controlled mechanical traction to the lumbar spine as part of a broader treatment plan.

Spinal decompression is not appropriate for everyone with sciatica, so we first perform an assessment to determine whether it may be suitable for your condition.

[LEARN MORE ABOUT SPINAL DECOMPRESSION]

Active Rehabilitation With Our Kinesiologist

Reducing pain is only one part of recovery.

Once appropriate, active rehabilitation can help rebuild the strength and movement capacity needed for work, exercise, sport, and everyday life.

Our on-site kinesiologist may work with you on:

• Core strength

• Glute and hip strength

• Spinal mobility

• Balance

• Movement control

• Lifting mechanics

• Gradual loading

• Return to exercise

• Return to work or sport

Having chiropractic and kinesiology available in the same clinic allows care to progress naturally from:

Reducing irritation → Restoring movement → Building strength → Returning to activity

Do I Need an X-Ray or MRI?

Not every person with sciatica needs imaging.

Your history and neurological examination help determine whether additional investigation is appropriate.

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness, we have access to in-house digital X-ray imaging when clinically indicated.

X-rays can provide useful information about certain bony and structural findings, but they do not directly show spinal discs or nerve roots.

An MRI may sometimes be recommended when more detailed information about the discs, nerves, or surrounding tissues is required.

Should I Rest With Sciatica?

Complete bed rest is generally not the goal for uncomplicated sciatica.

However, certain movements may need to be temporarily modified when symptoms are highly irritated.

For example, you may temporarily need to reduce:

Heavy lifting • Repeated bending • Prolonged sitting • High-impact exercise

As symptoms improve, gradual return to movement and normal activity is usually encouraged.

Our team can help you determine which activities are appropriate at each stage of recovery.

Sciatica From Prolonged Sitting

Many patients notice that sitting aggravates their symptoms.

If this applies to you, simple strategies may include:

• Changing position regularly

• Standing or walking periodically

• Breaking up long periods of driving

• Adjusting your workstation

• Avoiding prolonged slouched sitting

• Performing appropriate mobility exercises

The goal is not necessarily to avoid sitting, but to gradually improve your tolerance for everyday activities.

When Sciatica Needs Urgent Medical Attention

Most sciatic symptoms can be assessed conservatively, but certain neurological symptoms require urgent medical attention.

Seek urgent care if you experience:

• New loss of bowel or bladder control

• Numbness around the groin or saddle region

• Rapidly worsening leg weakness

• Severe weakness affecting walking

• Significant trauma

• Fever with severe back pain

• Progressive neurological symptoms

If we identify concerning findings during your examination, we will recommend appropriate medical evaluation.

What to Expect at ProSpine

1. Consultation

We discuss your symptoms, health history, work, exercise, and goals.

2. Neurological & Musculoskeletal Assessment

We evaluate strength, sensation, reflexes, nerve tension, movement, and relevant spinal and hip findings.

3. Explanation of Findings

We explain what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether further investigation is needed.

4. Individualized Treatment

Your care may include chiropractic treatment, mobilization, spinal decompression, or other appropriate conservative approaches.

5. Active Rehabilitation

Our kinesiologist can help restore strength, movement, and confidence.

6. Reassessment

Your care plan is adjusted according to your progress.

Get Back to Moving With Confidence

If pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness is travelling from your lower back or buttock into your leg, an assessment can help determine whether sciatica is involved and what treatment options may be appropriate.

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness, we combine chiropractic care, spinal decompression when appropriate, and active rehabilitation to help you work toward improved movement and function.

ProSpine Rehab & Wellness
Vancouver, BC
778-805-8188
info@prospinevan.ca

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