FACT 1 – Sciatic Is Not A Diagnosis

Dr. Ben Boudreau: Absolutely. At some point, 40% of folks will suffer from sciatic pain. And honestly, sciatica is not a diagnosis at all.

Dr. Clayton Roach: Yeah, here are some quick facts. Number one, that’s sciatica, not a diagnosis. But when people say they have sciatica, it’s a group.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: Of symptoms, right? It’s a group of feelings and sensations that you get from the pain that comes from that sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be caused by multiple different diagnoses. However, the symptoms that you experience are what people call that sciatica.

FACT 2- The Level Of Sciatica Does Matter

Dr. Clayton Roach: Additionally, typical leg pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness, are the symptoms that make up sciatica not a diagnosis but just a group of symptoms. A quick fact about sciatic pain is that the level does matter. Where is that dysfunction in the spine from l3 l4 l5 s1 s2 s3 down? Where’s the dysfunction? Furthermore, if you have something wrong with the spine, we need to know where that is and that you’re diagnosed because that diagnosis will probably dictate what kind of symptoms you will have. Additionally, it will determine the treatment you should receive.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: Exactly. And where that nerve pain is coming from. Right. Most people think, oh, I’ve got sciatica. Obviously, the problem has to be in my leg because that’s where I’m feeling the problem. But sciatica or where the diagnosis should be made is through your lower back. And then following the nerve down and figuring out, okay, well, where is it being compressed along that route of the nerve?

FACT 3 – Higher Risk If You Are Tall And/Or Overweight

Dr. Clayton Roach: Yeah, it’s a great point. Number three, a quick fact about sciatic pain is that you have a higher risk if you’re taller, so we will never have an issue.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: All right? The taller, the higher you are, the more risk.

Dr. Clayton Roach: Exactly.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: It’s six one. Yeah. Or higher.

Dr. Clayton Roach: Or higher. More risk of having sciatica as well as weight and age. Okay. Yeah. Moreover, the heavier you are, the more likely you are to suffer some severe consequences. Consequences from a disc bulge in your lower back creating sciatica. Right. Number four. The quick fact of sciatic pain.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: Therefore, the treatment depends on the cause. As we said before, it depends on where that sciatic nerve is being irritated that’s causing that sciatic-like symptom. Is it coming from your lower back or from a nerve being compressed in that track along the nerve? Right. Or is there anything more sinister going on? Do we have to do a further investigation? It depends on the diagnosis of that sciatica, what it is, and how the treatment is going to be rendered at that point.

FACT 4 – Treatment Depends Of The Cause

Dr. Clayton Roach: And like we said in fact, number one like sciatica is not a diagnosis but a symptom. The symptoms could vary a lot based on what the actual cause is. And we have a cause of sciatica that’s not great, which in some cases could be cancer. Right? Additionally, we need to make sure that we identify the cause of the issue so that you can get the best treatment for that particular cause. Absolutely. Number five, a quick fact about sciatic pain is that movement is life, right? Thus, exercise is better than rest. Remember when people would have back pain, it would prescribe bed rest, and we’re like as chiropractors, like, oh my gosh, why do that? Moving right? Yeah, keep the joint moving so we can.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: Talk and honestly keep the nerve moving. Frequently we do as chiropractors, we will prescribe exercise or get our patients to perform some exercise to help mobilize that nerve or maybe even stabilize the core bit better. Maybe they have a pelvic issue causing that malalignment and then compression on the nerve leading to that sciatic pain. Therefore, exercise movement is always better to get that nerve motion. It is motion.

Dr. Clayton Roach: Yeah. And as you’re getting those exercises, we as chiropractors will move to joint intercept mentally so that we can move that area where the cause is. If it’s L four, L five or l5 s1. Along with those exercises, you could be out of pain in no time. Therefore, you got the five quick facts about sciatic pain. Number one, sciatica is not a diagnosis. It’s just basically a group of symptoms. Number two.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: The level of irritation matters. Where that nerve compression is happening? L three to S three.

Dr. Clayton Roach: Yep. Number three quick fact about sciatic pain is that your risk increases the taller you are with your age and with your weight.

Dr Ben Boudreau: Number for sciatica. The fact is treatment depends on the cause of the sciatic pain.

FACT 5 – Exercises Is Better Than Rest

Dr. Clayton Roach: And number five, if you don’t use it, you lose it. So exercising is better than. Yes. And here you have another episode of Double Doc Talk with me, Dr. Clayton Roach.

Dr. Ben Boudreau: And I’m Dr. Ben Boudreau. Don’t forget to follow us on YouTube or subscribe to us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and look for more great videos that we’ll be releasing in the future.

Dr. Clayton Roach: Yeah, take care, and I hope to see you on our next episode.