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What Causes Sciatica?

Written By Caputo Chiropractic Center on January 16, 2024

a woman running with sciatica

Sciatica is a combination of symptoms that occur when the sciatic nerve is injured, irritated, inflamed, pinched, or compressed. Sciatica symptoms include lower back pain, a burning or itching pain that travels from your back down one leg, numbness or tingling, and muscle weakness in your leg or foot. At Caputo Chiropractic Center, our chiropractor Dr. Thomas Caputo has decades of experience treating conditions that affect the muscles, spine, and nervous system. We can diagnose and evaluate your sciatica, and then recommend the most effective sciatica treatment in Suwanee, GA.  

What Is the Sciatic Nerve?

Your sciatic nerves are two large, thick nerves that run from your lower back down each leg. They are the longest and thickest nerves in your body and control both motor and sensory fibers. If one of these nerves is damaged, you may have difficulty running, sitting, standing, and walking. 

What Causes Injury to the Sciatic Nerve?

An injury to the sciatic nerve causes sciatica symptoms. The sciatic nerve can become injured due to:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Pregnancy
  • Trauma
  • Tumors, bone spurs, or cysts
  • Herniated discs
  • Bulging discs
  • Pinched nerves
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Foraminal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis

What are the Most Common Sciatica Symptoms? 

The most common sciatica symptom is lower back pain. Sciatic nerve pain can cause a burning or itching pain that feels like an electric shock. The pain can radiate from your lower back through your hips and down one leg to your foot. Pain may increase if you move, walk, lie down, sit, or stand. Other sciatica symptoms are:

  • A pins and needles or tingling feeling
  • Numbness or muscle weakness
  • Bladder or bowel issues

How Is Sciatica Treated?

Dr. Caputo and his team may recommend a combination of different chiropractic therapies to treat sciatica. Chiropractic care focuses on non-invasive, drug-free treatments that promote the body’s natural ability to heal itself. We recommend conservative, all-natural holistic therapies, including chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, laser therapy, therapeutic exercises and stretches, and diet and lifestyle counseling.

Visit Us for Sciatica Treatment in Suwanee, GA

Don’t let sciatica symptoms keep you from living a happy, healthy life. Visit us at Caputo Chiropractic Center, and Dr. Caputo and his team will determine the underlying cause of your sciatica. We will then create a personalized sciatica treatment plan that relieves pain and other symptoms and helps you return to your regular routine. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Caputo now. 


Posted In: Sciatica