Sciatica is not a distinct medical condition on its own, but rather a clinical symptom of an underlying spinal issue. Most frequently, it originates from a herniated or bulging disc in the lumbar spine (specifically L4-L5 or L5-S1) that presses against the large sciatic nerve.
Key Early Warning Symptoms:
- Radiating Pain: A sharp, electric or burning pain traveling down through the buttocks into the calf or foot.
- One-Sided Discomfort: Sciatica typically affects only one side of the body at a time.
- Numbness & Tingling: Loss of sensation or "pins and needles" in the toes or foot.
- Aggravation from Sitting: Prolonged desk work puts increased hydrostatic pressure on spinal discs, triggering severe flare-ups.
At Sri Balaji Physiotherapy & Chiropractic Center, Dr. Manish Singh uses gentle chiropractic spinal manipulation and computer-assisted lumbar traction to open the intervertebral foramen, relieving direct impingement on the nerve without invasive surgery.
