Top 5 Most Common Symptoms of Sciatica

Sciatica is a painful condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve — the nerve that branches from the lower back through the hips and down each leg — becomes compressed, inflamed, or otherwise irritated. If you believe you may be suffering from sciatica, there a few telltale symptoms that can alert you to problems with your sciatic nerve. Below, the experts at Centennial Chiropractic Clinic in Springfield, OR explain five of the most common symptoms of sciatica.

1. Pain in the Buttocks or Legs That Grows Worse When Sitting

When you sit, you naturally place pressure on the sciatic nerve, both in the lower spine and where it passes through the hips and buttocks. If the sciatic nerve is already irritated, compressed, or inflamed, the additional pressure on the nerve from sitting can cause increased pain that grows worse the longer you remain seated.

2. Tingling or Burning In Your Leg

When the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed, compressed, or otherwise irritated, you may experience a burning or tingling sensation in one side of your buttocks or in a single leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of the body at a time, though it is possible to experience it in both legs and buttocks simultaneously.

3. Weakness or Numbness in Your Leg

Though sciatic nerve pain is usually the most prevalent symptoms of sciatica, numbness and weakness are also very common. Because the sciatic nerve serves the muscles in the buttocks and legs, when the nerve becomes compromised, it cannot effectively serve the muscles in the lower body. As a result, you may experience a loss of sensation in your leg or foot or have trouble walking or standing due to leg weakness.

4. Constant Hip or Buttock Pain

Sciatic nerve pain can often be unrelenting. Because the sciatic nerve passes directly through the hip and buttock area, this condition can cause persistent discomfort throughout the region. You may experience a dull, aching pain while performing most movements and while sitting or standing.

5. Pain in the Lower Back

Because the sciatic nerve branches away from the lumbar spine, when it becomes compromised, it can trigger pain in the lower back. Whether the nerve is compressed by the lumbar spine or inflamed from something else, you may experience episodes of acute, severe lower back pain or long periods of dull, aching lower back pain. A chiropractor can perform a thorough assessment to determine if your lower back pain is caused by sciatica.

Schedule Sciatica Treatment With a Chiropractor in Springfield, OR

If you believe you may be suffering from sciatica, it is important to schedule a comprehensive evaluation with a chiropractor to determine the source of your pain. At Centennial Chiropractic Clinic, we specialize in sciatica treatment and can help get you out of pain and back to enjoying the activities you love. To learn more about our treatment approach or to schedule an appointment, call our Springfield, OR office at (541) 726-6521 or contact us online and we’ll be in touch.