Sciatica

When pain, tingling, or numbness travels from your low back or buttock down the leg, sciatica is usually the word that gets used for it. It describes that pattern rather than being a diagnosis on its own, and understanding what is actually irritating the nerve is the key to helping it settle. Most cases improve with the right care and time.

What sciatica can feel like

People describe it in different ways: a deep ache in the buttock, a sharp or electric line down the back of the leg, pins and needles in the calf or foot, or a heavy, weak feeling in the leg. It is often worse with sitting, bending, or first thing in the morning. Sometimes the back barely hurts at all and it is the leg that gets your attention.

Common causes we see

True sciatica comes from irritation of the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots in the low back, often from a disc or joint in the spine, which is why following the pain back to its source matters. Not all leg pain is sciatica, though. Pain from the sacroiliac (SI) joint or from tight muscles in the hip can mimic it closely, and they are helped in different ways. Sorting out which one you have is a big part of the first visit.

How we assess it

We take a careful history of how the symptoms behave and where they travel, then use orthopedic and movement tests to work out what is irritating the nerve and rule out the look-alikes. We check your strength, sensation, and reflexes where it is relevant, and we explain what we find so you understand what is going on.

How we help

Care is built around calming the irritation and helping you move comfortably again. Depending on what we find, that can involve chiropractic care, soft tissue work, and a graded exercise and rehab plan, along with advice on positions and activities that tend to settle nerve pain versus stir it up. Most people do best staying gently active within their comfort rather than resting completely. If your case needs imaging or a medical opinion, we will help arrange that.

When to get it checked sooner

Please seek prompt medical care if leg symptoms come with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the saddle area, or rapidly worsening weakness in the leg or foot. These are uncommon, but they matter, and if any show up in your assessment we will refer you on right away.

How long does sciatica take to settle?

It varies a lot from person to person, and nerve pain can be slower and more up-and-down than a simple muscle strain. We will give you an honest sense of the likely timeline after your assessment, and adjust the plan as your symptoms change rather than promising a fixed number of visits.

Do I need a referral?

No, you can book directly with us in Ontario. Some insurers ask for a physician referral before they reimburse, so it is worth checking your plan. See our fees and insurance page for prices and direct billing.

Read more from our team

• Pain in the leg? Differentiating sciatica vs SI joint pain
• Pain down river: when leg or arm pain starts at the spine