Condition
Sciatica Chiropractor in Currambine
Sciatica describes pain travelling down the leg along the path of the sciatic nerve — often sharp, sometimes burning, frequently worse than the back pain that came with it. It is unpleasant, and in most cases it does improve.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, from the lower back into the buttock and down the leg, usually caused by irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lumbar spine. Most cases improve over weeks to months. Northern Beaches Chiropractic in Currambine assesses sciatica with a neurological screen before any treatment.
What commonly contributes to it
People commonly visit us for assessment and management of sciatica. These are the factors that turn up most often — your own picture is worked out in the assessment.
- Lumbar disc irritation pressing on or inflaming a nerve root
- Narrowing of the space around the nerve, more common with age
- Irritation of the nerve as it passes through the deep gluteal region
- A sudden loading event, though often there is no clear trigger at all
What is actually happening
A nerve root in the lower back becomes irritated or compressed, and the symptoms are felt along everywhere that nerve supplies. That is why the leg can hurt intensely while the back feels comparatively minor.
Disc-related sciatica typically settles as inflammation reduces and the disc changes over time. That process takes weeks to months rather than days, which is worth knowing at the start.
Assessment includes a neurological screen
Testing covers reflexes, strength and sensation in the leg, plus movement testing to establish which directions ease and which aggravate. That pattern shapes the plan and flags anything needing urgent referral.
If red flag findings are present, the appointment becomes a referral rather than a treatment.
What helps in the meantime
Most people find some positions genuinely settle things and others reliably provoke them. Identifying yours early makes the difficult weeks considerably more manageable.
Gentle, regular movement generally beats prolonged sitting or bed rest. Hands-on care can reduce the protective muscle tension around the area, and graded loading is reintroduced as symptoms centralise back toward the spine.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sciatica last?
Many cases improve substantially over six to twelve weeks, though some take longer. A useful early sign is centralisation — symptoms retreating from the foot and calf back toward the buttock and back, which generally indicates things are moving the right way.
Should I get a scan for sciatica?
Not routinely. Imaging is indicated when there is progressive neurological loss, red flag findings, or when symptoms are not improving and surgical opinion is being considered.
Is walking good for sciatica?
For most people yes, in short and frequent bouts within tolerance. Prolonged sitting tends to be the harder position. Dr Corey will help you find which movements and positions ease your particular pattern.
When is sciatica an emergency?
Seek immediate medical attention for numbness around the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, or rapidly progressing leg weakness. These can indicate cauda equina syndrome, which is a surgical emergency.
Last reviewed by Dr Corey Williams, Chiropractor. This page is general information, not individual health advice.
Get your sciatica assessed
Book an assessment at the Currambine clinic and find out what is actually going on.