Caution: Pain down the back of the leg is not always sciatica.

About 30 years ago I got a call from my plumber who asked if I could help with sciatica.  Sciatica is pain that radiates into the buttocks, back of thigh, or even down to the leg caused mainly by an impingement to the sciatic nerve.  This impingement is usually caused by a bulging or herniated disc pressing on the lumbar nerve root.  I told him to come in since I had helped many cases of sciatica.  By way of taking a health history, I discovered that he went to his medical doctor and he told my patient that it was sciatica and he referred him to a physical therapist for treatment.  I also found out that the sensation down his leg was a "deep bone" pain.  I did some orthopedic and neurologic tests and along with the health history, I decided to have his thigh x-rayed (notice: not his lower back) The x-ray revealed what I already suspected; a "sunburst" tumor on his thigh bone.  A flashback to my radiology courses cued me in to a much more serious diagnosis.  I subsequently put his x-rays in a manilla jacket, handed them to him and told him to go back immediately to the doctor who diagnosed him with Sciatica.  I got a call from the patient a week later and he said "guess what?"  "I have osteosarcoma!"  Osteosarcoma is perhaps the most dangerous type of bone cancer.

During my years in chiropractic college, we not only learned, anatomy, physiology, chemistry etc., but we were methodically drilled to learn every possible disease or medical problem a human could have to the point of hypervigilance.  We were made painfully aware of the consequences of a misdiagnosis.  My point is that, because of my chiropractic education and the time and attention we chiropractors dedicate to our patients, we are well equipped to be the first doctor someone sees when they're in pain.  If it is a medical problem, most of us will refer you out to medical services immediately.  If it is a chiropractic problem, odds are that we will be able to help you.  I have done this many times in my career and many lives have been saved as a result.

My name is Dr. Rob Gottesman, your Downtown Colorado Springs gentle chiropractor 80903.  If you have any questions, please e-mail me at www.dcinthesprings@yahoo.com or call (719) 600-1926