Sciatica Treatment in Portland, OR
Sciatica is pain along the sciatic nerve, caused by irritation or compression. This nerve starts in the lower back and runs through the hips, buttocks, and legs. Pain along this nerve is called sciatic neuralgia. It can cause back, buttock, and leg pain, along with numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg, foot, or toes. This is called sciatic neuritis.
Sciatica is usually a symptom, not a medical diagnosis. It describes leg pain that usually starts in your lower back or buttock and travels down the back of one leg. It may even radiate into your feet and toes. Most cases of sciatica have a positive outlook, especially when the condition is identified early and managed with appropriate care.
Call (503) 298-6866 to schedule your sciatica consultation.
Causes of sciatica
Common medical conditions that may be responsible for sciatica include:
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated lumbar disc
- Spondylolisthesis
- Lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative changes in the vertebrae or discs
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Muscle spasm and inflammation of the lumbar and pelvic muscles
- Rarely, as a result of a tumor
Other than these, various risk factors may predispose you to sciatica, such as previous injury, older age, obesity, incorrect posture, prolonged sitting, etc.
Sciatica refers to a pinched sciatic nerve. This large nerve is located in the lower back and runs down the back of each of your legs. Pain occurs when you experience compression of the nerve due to an accident, a tight piriformis muscle, a disc herniation, poor posture, or degenerative disc disease.
Symptoms Of Sciatica
Sciatica can range from mild tingling to severe, sharp-shooting, or excruciating pain along the path of the sciatic nerve. One or more of the following features characterize sciatica:
- Mild to severe pain
- Weakness, tingling, numbness, and burning sensation in the back of the leg
- Typically affects one side of the leg
- The pain may get aggravated depending on the change in the posture like trying to stand up, sit, bend, coughing, etc
- There may be an inability to control the bladder or bowels. Which is the result of a rare condition called cauda equina syndrome (CES)
- Dull, nagging, tingling, or numbing pain in one side of your buttock or leg (rarely in both legs simultaneously)
- Pain that intensifies when sitting
- Numbness or pain spreads through your upper leg and sometimes into your foot and toes
- Sharp, shooting pain, particularly when standing up from a seated position or changing the position of the body
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Pins-and-needles sensation in the leg and lower back
Long-term problems due to untreated sciatica
If neglected for a long time, Sciatica can potentially lead to nerve damage. It is advisable to seek immediate medical attention if one or more of the following symptoms are experienced.
- Leg weakness
- Sciatica pain in both legs
- Loss of feeling in the affected leg
- Loss of bowel or bladder function
- Sexual dysfunction
Tingling, numbing pain that radiates from your lower back and into your legs can range from mild to debilitating.
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How do we treat sciatica?
Frequently asked questions
Can sciatica go away permanently?
Mild sciatica cases can be easily managed with self-care and home remedies without the need for surgery within a few weeks to a month. Symptoms of sciatica may or may not recur after subsiding.
What gets rid of sciatica?
Heating pads, Ice packs, stretching, self-care, analgesic medications, and chiropractic therapies can help relieve sciatica symptoms. There should be regular monitoring for changes or improvements in condition.
Does walking help with sciatica nerve pain?
Upon diagnosis, you must avoid lying on the bed or taking bed rest. The activity must not be avoided, and one must remain active. Though walking cannot cure sciatica, it helps your body to stay fit.
Is sitting bad for sciatica?
Upon diagnosis, you must avoid lying on the bed or taking bed rest. The activity must not be avoided, and one must remain active.
Does drinking water help sciatica?
Drinking water is always beneficial because it rehydrates the body and replenishes the fluids in the spinal discs, helping maintain disc health.
How should I lay with sciatica?
Sleeping on the back is good in sciatica, and it helps reduce pressure from the lumbar regions, thus reducing the strain on the sciatic nerve.
What should you not do with sciatica?
You may avoid high-intensity workout and exercises if you have sciatica, like exercises involving heavy stretching of the hamstrings, Straight legged sit-ups, Abdominal stretches, Weightlifting, etc.
How long does it take to recover from sciatica?
Your healing time depends on the cause of the compression of your sciatic nerve. The team at True Chiropractic Portland helps you manage symptoms and regain as much daily function as possible as you heal and recover. Once the compression of the nerve is released, your body heals naturally. How long this takes depends on the severity of your symptoms and the cause of the pressure.
Does medical insurance cover sciatica treatment?
The cost of Sciatica treatment in Portland is typically covered by medical insurance. However, certain therapies, such as acupuncture, may not be covered. Visit or call True Chiropractic Portland to learn more about your options.