Common causes of low back pain include muscle strain from exercise or lifting, sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time, and repeatedly carrying a bag or child on one side of our body. Intense low back pain can also be caused by a bulging or herniated disk — when one of the gel-like disks that maintain space between vertebrae ruptures or bulges, putting pressure on nerves in the spine. A host of chronic medical conditions are associated with low back pain, including fibromyalgia and spinal stenosis.

Sciatica is most commonly caused by a bulging or herniated disk — when one of the gel-like disks that maintain space between vertebrae ruptures or bulges, causing the vertebrae to put pressure on the sciatic nerve, which is the primary nerve that carries signals from the spinal cord to the back of the lower extremities.

Symptoms often include a pain in the low back or buttocks that shoots down the back of the leg into the back of the knee or down to the foot, often like a lightning bolt. You may also experience numbness, tingling, or burning down the back of the leg.

Sciatica tends to flare up occasionally even after it has initially resolved. ​​Our goal for you is pain-free movement. We want you to be able to walk, stand up, and live your life easily and comfortably. We will give you tools to manage your symptoms, long term. That way, if your sciatica starts to return, you'll know exactly what to do to minimize and alleviate the pain.