SCIATIC PAIN

Sciatic pain can be debilitating and is often characterized as low back pain or buttock pain that travels down one or both legs often to the feet. Sciatica is usually caused by compression of the sciatic nerve either within the spine or within the buttock muscles itself.

Spinal disorders that can cause sciatica include muscle imbalances, herniated or bulging discs, pregnancy and/or childbirth, spinal tumors, and non-spinal disorders such as diabetes, constipation, or even sitting on a wallet or phone for prolonged periods of time.

The most common cause of sciatica is piriformis syndrome which is named after the correlating buttock muscle. The piriformis muscle attaches to the low spine and thighbone (femur) and assists in hip rotation. The sciatic nerve generally runs underneath the piriformis but is also known to run directly through the piriformis lending itself to compression.

Dr. O’Donnell treats sciatica with therapeutic exercise and re-education, MLS Cold Laser therapy, trigger point dry needling and spinal manipulation.