15/09/2025
A common mistake people make is that they self diagnose “sciatica” with any low back pain/ numbness/ tingling or weakness that refers down the leg.
🤨 Although sciatica is very common it is not the only cause of pain down the leg and if the pain is not going past the knee, chances are it may not actually be sciatica!
▫️What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition where there is pressure along the sciatic nerve which starts in the lower back and runs down the whole leg to the foot. Commonly this pressure is due to tight muscles in the lower back/ glutes, disc herniations, instability in the spine or degeneration/ arthritis.
You may notice your leg feels weak or it gets caught when walking. This pain may be worse with coughing, after standing or sitting, when bending backwards or long walks, when straining or holding your breathe.
▫️Is rest best?
‼️ Traditional advice of laying down in bed and resting has been well outdated and research now shows that resting and not moving may actually make your condition worse!!
▫️How can we help?
During your appointment your practitioner will perform a range of tests to identify what is causing the “pinch” or “pressure” to the nerve and also make sure it is not due to other conditions such as:
- Muscle referral pain
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Piriformis syndrome
▫️Things you can do at home
⭐️ DO NOT bed rest
⭐️ Keep moving every hour even a short walk to get a drink or go to the toilet or change from sitting to standing etc.
⭐️ Gentle back exercises as prescribed by your practitioner early on to take pressure off the nerve
⭐️ DO NOT lift heavy or twist for the first 6 weeks after pain began
☎ 4369 5342
💻https://kincumberchiropractic.com.au/
