The Warning Signs of Sciatica and When to Get Treatment

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated, resulting in pain. The pain can be just in the lower back, or it can extend down the butt and into the leg. In severe cases, it can become so irritated that nerve pain even extends to the foot. This is because the sciatic nerve exits the spine in the lower back and goes down each leg, all the way to the feet. For this nerve to cause pain, it must be physically irritated or pinched. This usually occurs in the lower back at the spine or at the butt, and in severe cases, the nerve can be irritated in both places. The sciatic nerve can be pinched in the lower back due to misalignment of the spine, or it can be pinched in the buttocks due to a tight piriformis muscle. The sciatic nerve runs under the piriformis muscle, so if this muscle is tight, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve. 

The most common sign of sciatica includes pain radiating from the lower back down one leg. It can radiate just in the butt or can continue down the back of the leg. If it’s severe, then it will radiate past the knee and down into the foot. Nerve pain can be sharp and shooting in nature. It can also feel like burning or tingling. Other times, the leg can feel weak, as if it is going to give out, due to nerve compression. 

The pinching of the sciatic nerve can occur for several reasons. It can be due to a bulging disc. Discs are the cushions between vertebrae that, if compressed, can put pressure on the nerve. This is the most common cause of sciatica in younger and middle-aged adults. Discs can also cause nerve compression when they shrink with age. Discs also shrink due to arthritis. Sitting for too long can also irritate the sciatic nerve. When the nerve is already irritated in the lower back, coughing, laughing, and sneezing can exacerbate nerve pain due to the increased pressure in the lower back, which puts more pressure on the sciatic nerve. If the sciatic nerve is severely compressed, it can cause bladder and/or bowel incontinence, as well as numbness in the groin. If this is a symptom, then seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

The piriformis muscle can become tight, causing sciatica, for several reasons. Sitting for too long, especially with poor posture, can cause the piriformis to tighten. If you have weak gluteal muscles, the piriformis muscle works harder to compensate, and this overuse can lead to tightness in the surrounding areas. Stress can cause tension in the hips and butt muscles. Some people hold stress in their shoulders, while others hold it in their back and hips. If you believe stress is contributing to your low back pain or sciatica, then improving stress management is an essential part of healing the pain, in addition to addressing the muscles through stretches and exercise. 

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between low back pain and sciatica because both can cause pain in the lower back and butt. Both can also be caused by too much sitting and poor posture. In regular low back pain, the muscles and joints are typically involved, but not the nerves, so the pain does not typically extend down into the leg. 

I suggest that if pain is just in the lower back and butt area, do stretches to release the lower back and piriformis. If it doesn’t provide relief within 3 days, then consider consulting a chiropractor or a nearby healthcare professional who can adjust the joints and release tight muscles to improve nerve flow. If the pain is in the leg, I would suggest stretches only under the supervision of a professional who can guide you through the specific stretches you need. 

The lower back can be out of alignment without causing sciatic nerve pain; however, if the misalignment is severe enough, it can lead to nerve irritation and discomfort. If you have low back and butt pain, only a chiropractor would be able to tell you if the sciatic nerve compression is part of the problem or not. A low back that is out of alignment can be caused by a muscle strain after lifting something heavy or awkwardly. Weak butt muscles and/or weak abdominal muscles can lead to strain in the back muscles. Poor posture can also lead to muscle tightness and spinal misalignment. Arthritis in the spine can also cause low back pain.

Treatment of sciatica depends on what’s causing the sciatic nerve irritation, but most cases improve without surgery. Surgery is only considered if symptoms last for more than 6 months. One of the treatments we do for severe sciatica is red light therapy. The red light improves circulation. The better the blood flow, the more oxygen and nutrients can reach the area, thereby reducing inflammation. Red light also increases endorphins, which can reduce pain and relax muscles. Red light also promotes nerve regeneration, which can be beneficial for individuals with severe sciatica. 

There are various ways to help people with sciatica. To determine what will help depends on where the sciatic nerve is irritated and which muscles or joints are involved. If you are unsure whether the sciatic nerve is involved in your low back pain, consider what type of pain you are experiencing. If it is a deep ache, then it may just be tight muscles causing the pain, but if you have sharp, shooting pain, numbness, or weakness, the sciatic nerve is involved, and a chiropractor can help release the pinching of the sciatic nerve and any disc or muscle pressure that could also be causing your pain. 

Once you are pain-free, a chiropractor can provide exercises to strengthen weak muscles, posture exercises, and stretches for tight muscles. In this way, low back pain and sciatic pain can be prevented from happening again. Sciatica is not something you have to learn to live with and manage for the rest of your life.