Why sciatica flares up

Sciatica is pain that travels from the low back or buttock down the leg, caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. In pregnancy it’s especially common: your shifting center of gravity, loosening ligaments, and the baby’s position can all load the pelvis and the deep hip muscles the nerve passes through — sometimes the nerve gets pinched by a tight piriformis muscle rather than the spine itself.

Outside of pregnancy, sciatica usually traces back to stiff spinal joints, disc irritation, or muscle spasm changing how the pelvis moves. Either way, the goal is the same: find what’s irritating the nerve and calm it down.

How we help

Chiropractic care restores motion to the low back and pelvis and releases the tight muscles — including the piriformis — that can trap the nerve. Most pregnancy sciatica responds within a handful of visits.

When strength and movement patterns are part of the picture, physical therapy builds the stability that keeps the pain from coming back, and acupuncture can help settle stubborn nerve pain and spasm.

• Shooting or burning pain down one leg
• Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
• Buttock pain that makes sitting miserable
• Pain that’s worse with walking or standing