Sciatica

Understanding Sciatica

Common symptoms

• Pain that radiates from the lower back or buttock down one leg — sometimes reaching the foot
• Sharp, burning, or shooting pain in the buttock or back of the leg
• Numbness or tingling in the leg, calf, or foot
• Weakness in the affected leg, particularly when walking or standing
• Pain that worsens with sitting, bending forward, or coughing and sneezing
• Difficulty finding a comfortable position — especially during sleep
• Sciatica pain during pregnancy, often in the second and third trimesters
• Symptoms that affect one leg more than the other

How chiropractic may help

Before any treatment, we carry out a thorough neurological and orthopaedic examination. This helps us understand the likely source of your sciatic nerve irritation — which is essential, because not all sciatica responds to the same approach. We check reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength, and assess the lumbar spine and pelvis both in movement and at rest. Depending on our findings, chiropractic care may include lumbar spinal adjustments to improve alignment and reduce pressure on the affected nerve root, specific hip and pelvic work to address sacroiliac joint involvement or piriformis tightness, gentle nerve mobilisation techniques to reduce tension along the sciatic nerve, and progressive exercise guidance — including specific sciatica stretches and strengthening work to support the lower back and prevent recurrence. For sciatica during pregnancy, we use modified positioning and low-force techniques that are safe and effective throughout all trimesters. If imaging is warranted — particularly where a significant disc herniation is suspected — we will refer you for an MRI or X-ray before proceeding, and co-manage your care with your GP or specialist where appropriate.

What to expect at Banora Chiropractic

Sciatica can be an alarming experience, particularly when the pain is severe or affects your ability to walk comfortably. At your first appointment, we take a careful history — asking about the onset, how the pain travels, any aggravating or relieving factors, and whether you have had any bladder or bowel changes (which, if present, would indicate the need for urgent medical assessment). We then perform our physical examination and explain our findings clearly. Some people with sciatica notice improvement within a few visits. Others — particularly where the nerve has been compressed for a long period — take longer. We will give you an honest assessment of what to expect based on your examination findings, not a generic response. In the meantime, we will advise you on the positions and movements that are most likely to reduce your symptoms between visits, and give you guided exercises to start making progress from day one. We monitor your neurological signs carefully throughout care and will refer you on without hesitation if we believe another form of treatment is needed.