What sciatica is
Sciatica is pain that follows the sciatic nerve: from the low back or buttock, down the back or outer side of the thigh, sometimes past the knee into the calf and foot. It can burn, ache, shoot like an electric line or simply go numb. The name describes where it hurts, not why, so it is a symptom rather than a diagnosis.
- Disc. Often pain below the knee, sometimes numbness in the foot, worse with coughing, sitting or bending. See bulging and herniated discs.
- Piriformis. Deep buttock pain that worsens with long sitting or driving, with the back itself fairly quiet. See piriformis syndrome.
- SI joint. Pain in the buttock and back of the thigh that tends to stop above the knee, without true nerve signs. See low back pain.
A narrowed spinal canal can also send pain into both legs when you walk; see spinal stenosis.
When to get urgent care
Sciatica with any of these needs emergency care first (call 911 or go to the emergency room): loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the saddle area, a foot that drags or weakness that keeps getting worse, sciatica in both legs at once, or severe pain after a fall or with a fever.
How we work with it
Once the source is clear, the plan follows it: dry needling and orthopedic acupuncture at the lumbar segment or the hip rotators, Active Release Techniques with sciatic nerve-glide work, electro-acupuncture where the leg is numb or weak, and functional movement corrections for sitting, bending and getting up. Moxibustion is added when the leg is cold and the pain worse in damp weather. We work alongside your physician and your imaging, not instead of them.
We track where the pain reaches down the leg, how long you can sit and how you sleep. Pain that retreats up toward the back is often a sign worth noting.
Questions people ask
Is sciatica always caused by a disc?
No. A disc pressing on a nerve root is one common cause, but a tight piriformis in the buttock and the sacroiliac joint can produce very similar leg pain. Each is treated differently, which is why the evaluation sorts them first.
Why does sitting make my sciatica worse?
Sitting loads the lumbar discs and compresses the buttock, so both disc and piriformis sciatica often flare in the car or at a desk. How your symptoms respond to sitting, walking and bending is one of the clues we use.
Can acupuncture make sciatica worse?
Mild soreness after a session is common, and sciatica can swing from day to day on its own. Symptoms that clearly worsen, or any new numbness or weakness, should be reported promptly so we can review the plan and involve your physician.
Which points are used for sciatica?
It depends on the source. Disc-related cases often involve points beside the spine at the affected level, piriformis cases the deep hip rotators, and many cases add points along the Bladder or Gallbladder channel or mirror points on the arm when the leg is too sensitive.
This is general wellness information, not medical advice.
