Sciatica and Radiating Leg Pain After a Car Accident
Sciatica is pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. It can be triggered or worsened by accident-related injuries such as a herniated disc pressing on a nerve root. An evaluation can help determine what is causing your symptoms and what next steps may be appropriate.
What is sciatica?
Mayo Clinic describes sciatica as pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, from the lower back to the buttock and down the leg. It most often happens when a herniated disc or bone spur puts pressure on nerve roots in the lower spine, causing inflammation, pain, and often numbness in the affected leg.
How a car accident can be related
The force of a collision can strain the lower back and, in some cases, contribute to disc or nerve-root problems. Pain may radiate into the buttock, thigh, or leg, and it can feel like a dull ache, a sharp or burning sensation, or an electric shock. Symptoms can be worse when sitting for a long time, coughing, or sneezing, and they usually affect one side of the body.
When to seek emergency care
Mayo Clinic advises getting immediate medical care for sudden numbness or muscle weakness in a leg, pain after a violent injury such as a traffic accident, or trouble controlling your bowels or bladder.
How an evaluation can help
At Spinal Connection Rehab & Wellness Center in North Miami Beach, Dr. Lynn Labrousse personally evaluates patients and reviews their history and symptoms before recommending any care. The clinic provides chiropractic care, spinal decompression, and rehabilitation-oriented services such as therapeutic exercise, which may be part of an individualized care plan when appropriate.
Common questions
Can a car accident cause sciatica?
A car accident can strain the lower back and, in some cases, contribute to disc or nerve-root problems that cause sciatica-type symptoms. An evaluation can help determine what is contributing to your pain.
Can chiropractic care help with sciatica after an accident?
Chiropractic and rehabilitation-oriented care is one approach some patients use for back and leg pain. An evaluation can help determine whether it is appropriate for you and how it may fit with other care.
