When people looking for a chiropractor in Grass Valley call my office it is not uncommon for them to let us know they are suffering from sciatica. The reality is that very few of them are really experiencing sciatica and that is a good thing. 

How Common is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a common condition affecting a significant portion of the population. The lifetime incidence of sciatica varies from 13% to 40%, with an annual incidence ranging from 1% to 5%4. In the United States, approximately 40% of people experience some form of sciatica during their lifetime6.

The most common causes of sciatica include:

1. Herniated or bulging discs: This is the most frequent cause of sciatic pain15.
2. Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back17.
3. Degenerative disc disease: Breakdown of disks between vertebrae13.
4. Spondylolisthesis: A condition where one vertebra slips forward over another13.
5. Piriformis syndrome: Compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle2.
6. Arthritis: Causing inflammation and narrowing of the spinal canal26.
7. Pregnancy: Due to additional weight and pressure on the lower back and pelvis3.

How Can You Tell If Your Leg Pain is Sciatica?

I always ask people to tell me exactly where they are experiencing their pain. I will often ask them if I offered them a sharpie marker or a 2” wide marker to color the pain which would be more appropriate.

If you have sciatica chances are you would choose the sharpie and draw a line through your buttock and down the back of your leg to your knee.

Sciatica has unique characteristics that set it apart from other causes of back and leg pain. Here are a few characteristics of sciatica:

Pain Pattern

1. Pain Pattern:

• Radiates from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of one leg, sometimes reaching the calf or foot147.
• Typically unilateral (affects only one side of the body)27.
• Described as sharp, burning, shooting, or electric-like pain27.

2. Associated Symptoms:

• Numbness, tingling, or weakness along the affected leg148.
• Pain worsens with activities like sitting, standing for long periods, or certain movements (e.g., bending forward)68.

If your pain is in the front of your thigh or the side of your thigh it is not sciatica. If you use your entire hand to trace the pain again it is unlikely to be sciatica. 

If It is Not Sciatica, What Is It?

The nervous system is the body’s communication system. It monitors everything happening in the body and sends messages from the body back to the brain. The brain sends messages back to the body to tell it what to do.

If you have pain anywhere, especially radiating down your leg(s) it is a clear message that:

• Something is out of balance
• Nerves are being irritated
• There is damage from trauma

This all applies to pain anywhere but since we are talking about leg pain let’s go over the likely culprits causing the leg pain. When I see clients at my office, Life Chiropractic in Grass Valley I am looking for the cause of their pain. The vast majority of the time the problem is not where the pain is. In the case of leg pain the problem is rarely found in the leg. So, where might the problem be?

When I evaluate someone experiencing leg pain at Life Chiropractic these are the most likely culprits that are causing the imbalances that result in leg pain. Often, more than one of these are involved:

• Hip Joint Imbalance: this is the true hip where your leg joins your pelvis. If the upper leg – the femur – is rotated it can put stress on the pelvis and contribute to leg pain. 
• Pelvic Joint / Sacroiliac Joint Imbalance: the nerves that exit the lower back and from the tailbone travel down the leg. When the SI or Sacroiliac Joints are stuck or misaligned it puts tremendous stress on the low back with every step. When this is present the hips or pelvis are often unlevel.
• Lumbar Joint Imbalance: the last couple of vertebrae in the low back are also often involved. Very often I will find these imbalances are causing the SI Joint imbalance. When the L4 or L5 vertebra are adjusted it often results in an immediate improvement in SI Joint motion and balance. 

What About Sciatica?

The Sciatic Nerve comes from the lower lumbar spine and tailbone (Sacrum). The nerves from L4 to S3 form the sciatic nerve. When the sciatic nerve gets irritated enough it will cause pain down the buttock and the back of the leg. When it passes the knee it is what I call a red flag because it indicates a severe amount of irritation. 

The most common cause of sciatica in people under 50 is a bulged, protruded, or herniated disc. This is what some people refer to as a herniated disc. Surgery is an option that some people choose although research shows that conservative care is just as effective as surgery and lacks any serious complications. 

Life Chiropractic Grass Valley

Life Chiropractic, founded by Dr. Bill Berkowitz, has become a trusted destination for individuals in western Nevada County seeking relief from chronic pain and other ongoing health challenges. Rooted in reliability and proven techniques, Life Chiropractic emphasizes results without unnecessary complexities, ensuring that each client receives straightforward, effective care.

The practice specializes in foundational chiropractic techniques, focusing on relieving conditions like low back pain, headaches, and anxiety. Life Chiropractic’s patient-first approach prioritizes each individual’s health journey, delivering solutions that are both effective and lasting.

With a reputation for excellence and dependability, Life Chiropractic continues to serve the Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, and North Auburn areas. By maintaining a focus on quality care, Dr. Berkowitz and his team have made Life Chiropractic a respected name in the community.

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