I Have an Office Job — Is Sciatica Normal?

That debilitating pain in your lower back and your leg is more than a distraction. In fact, it’s affecting your work productivity, not to mention your time off. It’s called sciatica — pain caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve — and one of its major causes is sitting for long periods of time, like so many who work in offices. 

The AllCare Chiropractic team has a progressive approach to treating sciatica, which includes equal parts targeted chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and concern for your quality of life. We see you and treat you as an individual, not just a condition.

What is sciatica, and how do I know if I have it?

Sciatica gets its name from the nerve that, when inflamed, causes this painful condition. The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back down each leg and straight to your feet.

As for identifying sciatica, you know you’re suffering from it if you feel an awful mix of back pain and stabbing leg pain. You can also experience numbness or tingling in your legs and buttocks.

While some sciatic nerve pain is minor, it can also be crippling and prevent you from ordinary activities like sitting at your desk and working or engaging in a favorite pastime or sport. 

Is my office job the root of my sciatica?

Quite possibly. Sciatica is caused by diverse problems — some examples are arthritis, a herniated disc, pregnancy, and spinal stenosis, a condition in which the spaces between the vertebrae narrow and put pressure on your nerves.

But if you’re largely sedentary for most of your days — which is common for people with desk jobs — you should be concerned about your risk for developing sciatica. Poor posture while working and office chairs that aren’t ergonomically designed significantly contribute to instances of sciatica.

Do I just have to live with sciatica?

While sciatica is common in people with office jobs, it’s not normal and you don’t have to suffer at work or home. We treat your sciatica with several strategies:

• We create your care plan only after thoroughly examining you, hearing about your pain history, and performing flexibility and movement tests; these inform how we treat your sciatica
• If your sciatica’s origin is joint-related, we devise a chiropractic plan and prescribe an adjustment schedule
• If your pain stems from a herniated disc or a muscle issue, we develop a physical therapy plan that incorporates exercises specific to your condition and body; our goals are to strengthen your back muscles and ease pressure on your sciatic nerve

Sciatic pain waxes and wanes, but this doesn’t have to be your forever life. We’ve helped many patients become free from sciatic nerve pain with individualized treatment and education about how to make their work areas healthier with properly positioned computers and chairs and even standing desks. 

If you’re spending 8-10 hours a day in your office, you need it to support your physical health — literally and figuratively. Visit one of our offices in Annapolis, Bowie, or Laurel, Maryland, to get started on addressing your sciatic pain and get back to normal. Give us a call, or simply request your appointment on our website with our convenient booking tool. We hope to see you soon!