Sciatica Pain Got You Down? Physical Therapy Could Provide Relief
Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves form a complicated network in our bodies. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It runs from the lumbar spine through the buttocks region, and to the knee before it branches off into two nerves that go into the lower leg. When irritated, it can cause a slew of problems. Some of these you wouldn’t even think were coming from the sciatic nerve because they mimic common musculoskeletal problems of the lower extremity – like ankle or knee sprains.
Sciatica may also be referred to as “lumbar radiculopathy”. Individuals suffering from sciatica most commonly report pain spreading deep into their lower limbs as a symptom. It can make it painfully hard to bend, walk, and exercise.
The causes of sciatica can be simple or complex. One of the most common causes is lumbar disc herniation. But it can also be caused by other sensitive structures in the spine, and it could be made worse by external factors like stress, poor sleeping patterns, lack of physical activity, and other unhealthy behaviours.
Physical therapy – physiotherapy, chiropractic, athletic therapy, and massage – may be able to help you find relief from this condition. Call our clinic today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy, and schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.
So, how can I tell if I have sciatica?
Symptoms associated with sciatica may vary. Some of the more common symptoms you may experience include:
- Burning, numbness, or tingling in the back, buttock, legs, and/or feet
- Pain that intensifies when sitting, coughing, sneezing, or bending
- Pain when bending or twisting
- Weakness in the legs
There is a solution to your problem that doesn’t involve expensive surgeries or addictive medications. If you think you may have a herniated disc or other back pain issues, physical therapy can help!
Sciatica is typically diagnosed with questions regarding your medical history, alongside a physical examination. In very few incidences, imaging like a CT scan or MRI may be needed.
How can physical therapy benefit me?
If you live with sciatica pain, a physical therapist – physiotherapist, chiropractor, or athletic therapist – will devise a specialized treatment specific to you and your needs.
Your therapist can work with you to:
- Improve your mobility
- Increase your strength
- Reduce sciatica pain
- Restore your activities of daily living
- Return you to your sport
- Provide education to minimize the frequency and intensity of your future episodes (because we’re not going to lie, back pain/sciatica is like the common cold – you’ll get it more than once in your life – and we hope we can teach you to recognize it’s coming and be proactive about managing it before it becomes the full-blown entity it wants to be)
- Provide education to promote an overall healthy lifestyle.
Physical therapy for sciatica is a non-invasive, effective, safe treatment plan targeted to get to the root cause of your pain.
What can I expect from a physical therapy treatment plan?
Physical therapy involves several treatment methods, including passive therapies (ex. manual therapy and massage) and occasional modalities (ex. acupuncture). But exercise to improve mobility and strength, as well as an overall improvement in physical activity combined with a reduction of unhealthy behaviours (ex. stress) and habits (ex. not getting enough sleep) go a long way in recovering from an episode and preventing future ones.
What are you waiting for? Get started on your sciatica treatment plan today!
Physical therapy – physiotherapy, chiropractic, athletic therapy, and massage – will usually use several different forms of care to reduce the pain and symptoms you feel with sciatica while avoiding, sometimes addicting and harmful, medications. You could be just a phone call away from living a pain-free life—what are you waiting for?
If you or a loved one is suffering from sciatica, be sure to contact Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehabilitation for a personalized appointment with one of our physical therapists.