Sciatica and Lower Back Pain are two completely different conditions that need to be treated in different ways.
Patients often confuse the two because they are very similar.
Sciatica is often thought to be back pain because it can produce pain in the lower back.
This is why sciatica tends to be misunderstood.
Not everyone experiencing low back pain will have sciatica, and not everyone with sciatica will necessarily have back pain.
Still, it's possible for those suffering from sciatica to have low back pain.
It's essential to know the difference between a low back pain condition and sciatic nerve pain so you can be treated accordingly.
In the article below, we will discuss sciatica and low back pain and your best treatment options.
Table of Contents
Sciatica
Sciatica is an intense pain that shoots down from the low back and down the leg, and even to the ankle or foot.
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed, which will cause inflammation, pain, or numbness.
This is what ultimately sets it apart from regular low back pain.
Sciatica often occurs at the same time as low back pain, but they are not interchangeable.
Sciatica can be excruciating and will typically affect only one side of the body.
The pain caused by sciatica can range from a dull, mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation that can become excruciating pain.
Some patients have described sciatica as an electric shock or jolt from the low back down the leg.
Sciatic nerve pain can worsen with coughing, sneezing, or prolonged sitting, and most often, the pain is only felt on one side of the body.
Low Back Pain
Low back pain is most often experienced near the waist and can be centralized or off to one side of your back.
There is an endless amount of reasons someone could have low back pain.
The low back structures that most often produce back pain are the muscles, joints, and discs.
The pain can also vary greatly. Some people complain of a constant dull ache, while others can't sit or stand without extreme pain.
The onset of low back pain can come from a sleeping position or even stress. Or, being involved in an accident and suffering a trauma will cause low back pain to occur.
Almost everyone will suffer from back pain at some point in their life.
The best way to know if your low back pain is sciatica is to pay attention to your symptoms.
If your pain is localized to one side of the body and is traveling into your buttock and leg, your back pain might be sciatica.
The Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough
If you are suffering from Low Back Pain or Sciatica, you should seek an experienced Chiropractor.
Chiropractors specialize in the musculoskeletal system and use adjustments and spinal manipulations to re-align the spine and help the body restore its normal function.
Our McDonough, GA Chiropractor and their team will perform an in-depth exam to determine the source and cause of your back pain.
Having your condition or injury properly diagnosed it crucial to recovery.
Our chiropractors will know if your back pain is sciatica so we can come up with a treatment plan that will treat the source of your pain.
If you have back pain, you should not put off treatment.
Waiting around and hoping your pain will go away on its own could prolong your recovery even further when you seek treatment.
The Doctors at Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough are highly committed to helping each patient return to their normal lives and activity levels.
Let our experienced Chiropractors in McDonough help you.
Click below if you'd like to schedule a free consultation to see how our experienced Doctors can help with your recovery.
