Sciatica vs Lower Back Pain: When Pain Travels

Sciatica vs lower back pain: learn the difference, recognise the symptoms and know when to seek help.

Lower back pain is something plenty of people experience. But when pain begins travelling into the buttock or down the leg, there may be more going on than an everyday backache. It could be sciatica.

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, or the nerve roots that form it, become irritated or compressed. Symptoms can include pain through the buttock and leg, along with tingling, burning or numbness – sometimes extending all the way into the foot.

Lower back pain, by comparison, often remains more localised around the lumbar spine. It can feel stiff, achy or sharp, and may turn simple movements – getting out of bed, sitting for long periods, bending or exercising – into surprisingly uncomfortable tasks.

There isn't one simple cause. Long periods of sitting, repetitive lifting, changes in the way the spine and pelvis move, muscle tension and disc irritation can all play a role. And that familiar "pinched nerve" feeling isn't always as straightforward as it sounds.

At Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman, people with both new and long-standing lower back pain and sciatica are regularly assessed. Rather than looking only at where pain is felt, an assessment considers spinal movement, possible nerve involvement and other factors that may be contributing to symptoms.

When back pain keeps returning – particularly when it begins travelling into the leg – a thorough assessment can help clarify what may be contributing and determine the most appropriate next steps.

Nomad Chiropractic, Mosman - Caring for Mosman and Sydney's Lower North Shore.

📍 1/563 Military Road, Mosman NSW 2088 📞 0491 064 117 Website: nomadchiropractic.com.au