Can a chiropractor or osteopath help with sciatica?
Can a chiropractor or osteopath help with sciatica?
If you've got pain travelling from your back or bottom into your leg, there's a good chance somebody has already mentioned the word sciatica to you.
But what actually is sciatica? And if you think you have it, who should you see?
At The Hive Health in Neath, sciatica is something our chiropractors and osteopaths see regularly. But before we decide what might help, the important bit is working out what's actually going on.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is usually used to describe symptoms associated with irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that contribute to it.
People often describe pain travelling from the lower back or buttock and into the leg. Some people may also experience symptoms such as tingling, pins and needles, numbness or weakness.
But — and this bit is important — pain going into your leg doesn't automatically mean you have sciatica.
There are other things that can cause pain in the back, hip, buttock or leg, which is why we wouldn't want to diagnose what's happening from a list of symptoms online.
Can a chiropractor or osteopath help with sciatica?
Yes, sciatica is one of the conditions that chiropractors and osteopaths may see and treat.
That doesn't mean that every person with leg pain needs chiropractic or osteopathic treatment, or that everyone who has sciatica will need the same approach.
Your first appointment at The Hive Health is about understanding your symptoms: when they started, what makes them better or worse, how they're affecting you and whether there are any other symptoms we need to know about.
We'll then examine you and talk you through what we find.
If we think your presentation is appropriate for care at The Hive Health, we'll explain your options and agree a plan with you. If we don't think we're the right people to help, we'll tell you that too and advise you on an appropriate next step.
Should I see a chiropractor or an osteopath?
You don't need to worry too much about getting this bit perfect.
There's a lot of overlap between chiropractic and osteopathy, and both our chiropractors and osteopaths can assess people presenting with sciatica.
Often, choosing who to see is more about the individual practitioner, their approach and finding an appointment that works for you.
You can have a look at our practitioner profiles before booking, but if you're still not sure, just get in touch and we'll help point you in the right direction.
What happens at the first appointment?
Your First Visit gives us time to properly listen to what's been happening and carry out an appropriate physical examination.
We'll explain what we think is going on, answer your questions and talk through the options available to you.
If treatment is appropriate and you're happy to go ahead, this can usually begin at your first appointment.
Are there times when sciatica needs medical attention?
Most importantly, there are some symptoms alongside back or leg pain that need urgent medical assessment.
For example, if you develop new problems controlling your bladder or bowels, numbness around your genitals or the area you'd sit on a saddle, or significant/new weakness in your legs, you should seek urgent medical attention rather than waiting for a routine appointment with us.
There are other reasons we may decide that further medical assessment or investigation is appropriate too. That's part of why we assess you rather than simply treating based on the word “sciatica”.