Mississauga Pain Clinic offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and orthotic services to residents of Churchill Meadows InMississauga
Mississauga Pain Clinic offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and orthotic services to residents of Churchill Meadows InMississauga
If you’ve ever felt pain travel from your lower back into your hip and down the back of one leg, you may have experienced sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It begins in the lower spine, passes through the buttock, and runs down each leg to the foot. When that nerve is irritated or compressed, it can cause sharp, burning, or aching pain—sometimes with tingling, numbness, or weakness.
The most common cause is a herniated (slipped) disc that presses on a nerve root as it exits the lower spine. Age-related disc wear, lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and piriformis syndrome (spasm/irritation of a deep hip muscle) can also trigger symptoms. Less commonly, pregnancy or a fall/injury can set it off.
People usually describe pain that radiates from the low back or buttock down the back of one leg. It may worsen when sitting, bending, twisting, coughing, or sneezing. Some notice pins-and-needles, numbness, or a sense that the leg is weak or “giving way.” While back pain can exist without sciatica, sciatica by definition involves leg symptoms along the nerve’s path.
Sciatica can affect anyone, but risk rises with age, smoking, prolonged sitting/driving, repetitive lifting, and stress. Machine operators and truck drivers are commonly affected due to long hours of sitting and vibration exposure. Over a lifetime, a substantial share of adults will experience an episode.
Your chiropractor or primary care provider will take a thorough history and exam to confirm that symptoms follow the sciatic distribution and to rule out other causes. Most cases don’t need immediate imaging. However, red flags—such as severe/progressive leg weakness, loss of bowel/bladder control, significant trauma, fever, history of cancer, or suspected cauda equina syndrome—warrant urgent imaging and medical referral.
The good news: most episodes improve over weeks with conservative care. Chiropractors offer several evidence-informed options:
Spinal manipulation/adjustments to improve joint motion, reduce nerve root irritation, and relieve pain. A randomized, double-blind trial found active manipulation outperformed sham for acute back pain with sciatica from disc protrusion—more patients became pain-free and they had fewer days of moderate/severe pain.
Targeted exercise to restore mobility and strength without aggravating symptoms (hip openers, nerve glides, core endurance, and graded walking).
Soft-tissue therapies (manual therapy/medical massage) to reduce muscle tone/spasm and improve circulation.
Modalities when appropriate (e.g., heat/cold for comfort, ultrasound or low-level laser, and TENS for short-term pain relief).
Education & activity modification so you can keep moving safely while symptoms settle.
Why manipulation? For carefully selected patients, spinal manipulation can reduce pain and speed recovery. Some studies suggest it may help certain patients avoid or delay injections or surgery when combined with a comprehensive plan.
Keep moving within tolerance—short, frequent walks beat long rest.
Alternate heat and cold for comfort (10–15 minutes each).
Change positions often; avoid long sitting. Use lumbar support and keep feet flat.
Practice good lifting mechanics (hinge at hips, keep the load close, avoid twisting).
Gently stretch hamstrings and hips; add core-bracing drills that don’t increase leg pain.
Build consistency with low-impact cardio (walking, cycling, pool/aqua fitness) as symptoms allow.
Staying active is your best defense. Mix walking or cycling with strength training (especially glutes, hips, and trunk), plus mobility work (yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi). Mind posture and workstation setup, break up sitting time, and train proper lifting patterns. If you smoke, seek support to quit—your discs will thank you.
See a clinician promptly if you notice bowel/bladder changes, saddle anesthesia, rapidly worsening weakness, if pain is severe or persistent beyond a few weeks despite self-care, or if you’re unsure which movements are safe. A chiropractor can coordinate care with your family doctor and guide you through a graded, active recovery plan tailored to your condition and goals.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for personalized medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting new exercises or treatments.
Davis, D., & Vasudevan, A. (2019). Sciatica. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/
Gillot, C. (2017, December 15). Sciatica: Causes, treatment, exercises, and symptoms. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7619
Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.). 5 tips for coping with sciatica. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/sciatica-prevention-and-coping
Koes, B. W., van Tulder, M. W., Peul, W. C. (2007). Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. BMJ, 334(7607), 1313–1317. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39223.428495.BE
Santilli, V., Beghi, E., & Finucci, S. (2006). Chiropractic manipulation in the treatment of acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion: A randomized double-blind clinical trial of active and simulated spinal manipulations. Spine Journal, 6(2), 131–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2005.08.001
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). (n.d.). Herniated disc. https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Herniated-Disc