Are you struggling with low back pain?
Back pain and sciatica are two of the most common reasons people seek care at our St. Albert clinic, and for good reason. They can stop you in your tracks. We've all been there. The feeling like "this may never go away" accompanied by the question of "how can I live with this pain?" Back pain will affect over 80% of us in our lifetime and can stop us from living our daily life. We know pain and how to help you out of it and get you from flat on your back to fabulous.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. It typically affects one side of the body and can range from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or even numbness. Many people also experience tingling or weakness in the affected leg.
Sciatic nerve pain is most commonly caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowing of the spine that compresses part of the nerve. Prolonged sitting, poor posture, and certain movements can aggravate it. The good news is that most cases respond well to hands-on treatment.
What Causes Low Back Pain?
Low back pain is rarely a single-cause condition. It can stem from muscle strain, ligament sprains, disc problems, joint dysfunction, or postural imbalances that build up over time. Whether your pain came on suddenly from lifting something awkward or crept in gradually from sitting at a desk all day, the underlying issue is usually something our team can address directly.
Many people with low back pain also develop sciatica when the affected structures irritate the sciatic nerve. Treating both conditions together, rather than in isolation, tends to produce faster and more lasting results.
How Can We Help?
This is one of the most common pain complaints and our team of therapists understand the reasons why it is so common. We work with you and as a team to get you moving happily again.
Our multidisciplinary approach means you have access to several treatment options under one roof, all working toward the same goal.
Our chiropractors use spinal adjustments and joint mobilization to address the structural issues that are often at the root of both sciatica and low back pain. If you've ever wondered whether a chiropractor can help sciatica, the answer is yes — especially when the cause is a misalignment or disc issue putting pressure on the nerve.
Our physiotherapists build individualized rehabilitation programs to restore movement, strengthen the muscles supporting your spine, and reduce the likelihood of pain returning. Targeted sciatic nerve exercises and low back pain rehab are a core part of what they do.
Massage therapy plays an important role in relieving the muscle tension and protective guarding that often develops around a painful area. Our Registered Massage Therapists work alongside your chiropractor or physiotherapist to support your recovery and keep your soft tissue healthy throughout the process.
For stubborn or chronic cases, acupuncture for sciatica can help calm the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and provide relief when other approaches need support. And for structural soft tissue issues that aren't responding, shockwave therapy offers a non-invasive option that promotes tissue healing at a deeper level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sciatica caused by a minor irritation can resolve within a few weeks with the right care. More significant nerve compression may take several months to fully settle. Starting treatment early and staying consistent with your rehab exercises is the best way to shorten your recovery.
Yes. Chiropractic care is one of the most effective approaches for both conditions, particularly when the cause is related to spinal alignment, disc problems, or joint dysfunction. Our chiropractors assess the root cause before recommending a treatment plan.
Both can be very effective, and at Revive you don't have to choose one or the other. Our team collaborates to make sure you're getting the right combination of care for your specific situation. Many patients benefit from seeing both.
Acupuncture can be a helpful addition to a sciatica treatment plan, particularly for managing pain and reducing nerve irritability. It works well alongside chiropractic and physiotherapy as part of a broader recovery approach.
Prolonged sitting, heavy lifting without proper form, and movements that increase leg pain are generally best avoided during a flare-up. That said, gentle movement is usually better than complete rest. Your therapist will guide you on what's safe and what to hold off on until things settle.
