30/10/2025
What is sciatica?
Sciatica refers to any sort of pain that is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. Itβs a common problem a that our chiropractic clinic works with every day. Sciatic nerve pain can be shooting, sharp, dull or even achy. Sometimes itβs associated with numbness or pins and needles. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body and is made up of nerve roots that exit from the spine, through the buttocks and go down both legs ending at your feet. It controls all the sensation in your legs and the muscle function of the lower limbs.
If the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed you can experience a variety of symptoms which include pain, numbness, pins and needles, or tingling. The symptoms can radiate from the lower back and travel down one or both of your legs to your foot and toes resulting in pain and weakness. The pain can range from agonising and very severe sciatica, to very mild sciatic pain. Even simple tasks such as bending, walking, standing or even sitting can be difficult and in some cases impossible.