Sciatica
By Robert Hermann DC, Chiropractor at Hermann Wellness in Bloomington, IL
Board Certified in Chiropractic Orthopedics
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It originates in the lower back from L4 to S3 area. These 5 nerves come together and run down your leg as one big nerve called the sciatic nerve. If you get pressure on your sciatic nerve from a herniated disc, this is called sciatica and you will have numbness or tingling below the knee often in the foot or lower leg. Most of the time the pressure or pinch will be at the L4-L5 disc or the L5-S1 disc. You may also have pain in the lower back or upper leg. Other causes of sciatica include degenerative disc disease and stenosis. Your doctor may order x-rays or a MRI to evaluated your lower back condition.
Spinal manipulation is very effective at relieving sciatica. Therapeutic exercise and physical therapy may also be used to help sciatica along with nutrition to support the underlying tissue. See home page for special new patient offer.