Visit DrStevenZodkoy.com

Follow Dr. Zodkoy on Instagram

HealthFlex
×
  • Home
  • About
  • Special Services
    • Clinical Nutrition
    • Intervertebral Differential Dynamics
    • Synaptic Therapy
    • Alpha Stimulation
    • Whole Body Vibration
    • Applied Kinesiology
    • Chiropractic
    • Physical Therapy
    • LiteCure Deep Laser Therapy
    • Neuro Emotional Technique
  • Symptoms
  • Patients
    • New Patient Forms
  • Store
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

When is Sciatica NOT a Sciatica?

When is Sciatica NOT a Sciatica?
September 8, 2017Dr. Steven Zodkoy, DCLatest Newsback painbuttock painhip painsciatica nervesciatica pain

Sciatica is a complaint that often does not respond to care, not because it is difficult to treat but more often because it is some other problem.

“My office specializes in treating chronic and difficult cases so I often see common conditions that have not been resolved even though the patient has seen multiple physicians. ” – Dr. Zodkoy, DC
sciatica nerveSciatica is a specific diagnosis indicating pressure on the L 4 and L5 nerve roots that refers pain down the leg. Too often physicians and patients use Sciatica as a generalized term for leg radiculopathy pain which leads to inadequate care and years of pain. There are several other conditions that mimic and are often referred to as Sciatica but will not respond to the care used to treat sciatica.

>Piriformis Syndrome is the most common mimic of Sciatica. The Piriformis muscle starts on the anterior side of the low back and runs forward, inferior and lateral to the edge of the femur “hip bone’.  This muscle is responsible for rotating your hip/leg out, like when you sit in a yoga position. The sciatic nerve runs adjacent to the Piriformis muscle which is why their symptoms often mimic each other. If this muscle goes into spasm a person may feel; back pain, hip pain, buttock pain, leg radiculopathy and have difficulty moving their back and leg. These are the same symptoms indicated in Sciatica, so how do you know the difference? Your doctor should be able to do an exam and pinpoint the main cause of your condition.

The simplest test is to palpate the L4 /L5 and the sciatic notch regions, the area which causes more pain is usually the primary issue, it is possible to have both conditions. The treatment for Piriformis Syndrome is focused on relaxing the muscle which include pelvic adjustments, trigger point therapy and modalities. The most effective treatment is Litecure Laser Therapy which can quickly penetrate deep into the muscle to relieve the spasm and reduce inflammation.

Iliotibial Band (ITB) Syndrome refers to a muscle that runs from your hip to below your knee, like the pathway that the Sciatic nerve follows. ITB syndrome is caused by the irritation and weakness of the Tensor Facia Lata (TFL)muscle but not a nerve. This condition is often caused by physical activity or shoes that cause your ankles to supinate (roll in).

The condition must always be ruled out before giving a diagnosis of Sciatica because it will not respond at all to sciatic treatment. Your doctor can diagnose this problem by testing the strength of the TFL and Popliteus muscles in your legs, weakness is a good indicator of this condition.

Palpation of the TFL muscle, sciatic notch and L4/L5 region is also done because ITB syndrome does not affect these areas. Correcting this condition requires finding the cause which may include a person’s gait or shows, strengthening the muscle and reducing inflammation in the area. I use Applied Kinesiology to evaluate my patient’s gait and shoes, kinesiology tape to stabilize and strengthen the muscle and the Litecure Laser to reduce inflammation.

The final mimicking condition that needs to be evaluated when a person says they have Sciatic is an impinged Common Peroneal Nerve. The Sciatic nerve turns into the Common Peroneal nerve at the knee level (see Fig. 1). Impingement of he Common Peroneal nerve at the knee is a common cause of pain above and below the knee which is why it mimics sciatica.

Your doctor can diagnose the difference by palpating behind lateral part of the knee where the Common Peroneal begins, acute pain is an indicator that is a major issue. ITB syndrome and Common Peroneal nerve impingement often show up together because the Tensor Facia Lata muscle is major stabilizer of the Fibula bone which is adjacent to the Common Peroneal Nerve.

The treatment for this condition includes Applied Kinesiology to evaluate my patient’s gait and shoes, mobilization of the Fibula, kinesiology tape to stabilize the Fibula and the Litecure Laser to reduce inflammation.

Too often physicians are in a rush to properly evaluate the underlying cause of their patients’ pain and thus miss the true diagnosis, this is most apparent when it comes to Sciatic pain. If your Sciatic pain has not responded to treatment make sure your doctor is not treating a Sciatic mimic.

Add Comment Cancel


Latest Posts

  • Natural Weight Loss with Hemp Oil January 29, 2019
  • Dealing with the Stress of Being Furloughed January 21, 2019
  • How to Control Toxic Thoughts January 7, 2019
  • Understanding Your Limits During Recovery August 13, 2018

Looking for Health News?

Have you read the Misdiagnosed: the Adrenal Fatigue Link?

Buy it now on Amazon

Do you know what your symptoms mean?

Try the Symptom Checker

Get Effective Treatment for Anxiety and Depression

Check out Alpha Stimulator!

Patient Testimonials

https://youtu.be/h9g2eeWotDw?loop=0

Tag Cloud

adhd adrenal fatigue anxiety applied kinesiology back pain before and after burnout buttock pain chiropractic chronic shoulder pain constipation cortisol diabetes diet eating fatigue frozen shoulder health hip pain holistic insomnia litecure laser litecure laser therapy mental health migraine prevention migraines mindful mindfulness nutrition obesity probiotics quantum neurology resiliency formula resiliency program sciatica nerve sciatica pain sensory input shoulder pain sleep stress supplements symptoms veterans weight gain weight loss

logo

Dr. Steven Zodkoy is a board certified chiropractor, nutritionist and kinesiologst who, for over 20 years, has specialized in assisting patients that have not found relief through a standard course of treatment.

732-308-0099

szodkoy@hotmail.com

503 Stillwells Corner Road Freehold, NJ 07728

Monmouth Advanced Medicine
Monmouth Advanced Medicine
5.0
powered by Google
Dina Poma-Barnes
Dina Poma-Barnes
14:24 14 Jan 18
A true treasure. A doctor, and his staff, that not only cares, but is an expert in his field. I travel from Northern Virginia to New Jersey once a month to see Dr. Zodkoy. A small price for the outstanding and knowledgeable medical care he provides.
Judith Major
Judith Major
23:10 18 Feb 18
Dr. Zodkoy is amazing. He has helped me where an orthopedic doctor and physical therapy has failed. He uses chiropractic techniques, applied kinesiology and nutrition in his treatment plan. He truly works wonders. I have never felt better. You are treated like family from the time you walk through the door. Marie and Christy are always welcoming and pleasant. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.
Alexis Lang
Alexis Lang
13:48 13 Feb 18
I and my entire family see Dr. Zodkoy before anyone else for anything from sports injuries to ADHD to stress related issues. What he does works. He listens and catches things that lead to solutions. He explains what the cause of issues is, how he will treat them, and how long the treatments will take. I have referred dozens of people to him and every one has thanked me for the results they got from his treatments. I can't recommend him highly enough.
Frank Bravoco
Frank Bravoco
15:45 30 Oct 17
I cannot say enough about the treatment that I have received from Dr Zodkoy. I was referred to Dr Z by a friend and I am glad that I made that first appointment. He was able to diagnose my problem immediately. I was truly impressed with the results that soon followed my treatments. I would highly recommend Dr Z based on his experience, knowledge and his ability to get results.
Giuseppe Lubrano
Giuseppe Lubrano
14:57 25 Nov 17
I've had back problems for a very long time. I have 3 herniated discs that have caused me pain for over 15 years, sometimes severely so. After seeing several back doctors/surgeons, one who said surgery was the only option, this scared me away after hearing stories of things getting worse after surgery. I was referred to Dr Zodkoy who has since been a miracle. I no longer have the everyday back pain. I can pick up my kids, go golfing, stand for 14 hours a day which my job requires, and live a normal life. I have been so thankful for his therapies and would recommend him to anyone.
Next Reviews
© 2017 Monmouth Advanced Medicine. All Rights Reserved.
Contact Webmaster: Charn Web Design