Sciatica

Sciatica is a general term describing pain from irritation of the sciatic nerve and its branches. The sciatic nerve is a collection of spinal nerve roots arising from the lower back. These nerves can become aggravated by abnormal functioning of the spinal vertebrae, bulging of the spinal discs (often called "slipped disc") or even by tight muscles around it. The symptoms can vary from severe pain shooting down the back of the leg to numbness/pins and needles or just a heavy leg feeling. Even when sciatica originates from the lower part of the spine, low back pain isn't necessarily present. This is a condition that we commonly see in the clinic, and get good results treating, often eliminating the need for costly and unnecessary back surgery.