Differentiating causes of low back and leg pain proves challenging, and inadequate or incomplete diagnoses result in suboptimal outcomes. Chiropractic care availability may lessen demands of primary care with respect to spinal complaints, while simultaneously improving patient outcomes. The authors describe three patients referred from primary care with a clinical diagnosis of sciatica despite differing underlying pathologies. More precise clinical terminology should be used when diagnosing patients with combined low back and leg pain. Nurse practitioners and other clinicians' triage, treat, and determine appropriate referrals for low back and leg pain. Multidisciplinary care including chiropractic may add value in settings where patients with lower back and leg pain are treated.
The ambiguity of sciatica as a clinical diagnosis: A case series.
Congratulations to Alyssa Troutner for your publication in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Let's keep on educating all stakeholders about the value chiropractors bring to spine care.
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