This blog post on sciatica is presented by Ann Arbor chiropractor Mike Tannenbaum, D.C.

Sciatica is a condition that affects millions each year. It can cause frequent and intense pain that usually begins in the low back and travels into the buttocks, back of the leg, and possibly into the knee and foot. The pain can be severe and debilitating, making many daily activities like standing and sitting difficult to impossible. Other symptoms of sciatica may include muscle weakness as well as pins and needles in the legs and feet.

Sciatica most often originates in the low back vertebrae or in the sacrum bone (part of the pelvis) where a bundle of five nerves runs together. This bundle of nerves travels to a muscle within the pelvis region called the piriformis muscle, and it is here where the five nerves merge to form one nerve: the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve transports nerve impulses to and from – among other muscles – major muscles of the leg.

Some of the conditions that cause sciatica:

-Sciatic nerve compression due to misaligned vertebrae.

-Narrowing of the spinal canal or the holes (“intervertebral foramen”) where nerve roots exit from the spinal column, which in turn compresses the sciatic nerve.

-Tightening of the piriformis muscle, which can compress the sciatic nerve.

Numerous studies demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic in treating sciatica. Chiropractors do a thorough examination to diagnose whether or not someone has sciatica. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the chiropractor has the training to treat most people with sciatica. I regularly treat, and help, people with sciatica in my Ann Arbor office.

If you have any questions about this blog post, chiropractic, low back pain, neck pain, or headaches, I can be reached at my Ann Arbor chiropractic office at [email protected].