Sciatica: Let’s get to the bottom

Sciatica is a very common condition affecting 3 million people annually.

Pain usually is one-sided, starting in the lower back and radiating along the sciatic nerve which runs through the buttock, the back of the leg, and continues all the way to the heel.

Sharp, stabbing, lightning bolt-like, like water dripping down the back of the leg, or like fire ants crawling up/down the back of the leg. People have a lot of various descriptors of how they experience sciatica pain.

These symptoms occur when pressure is placed on the sciatic nerve. That pressure could be due to a disc herniation, lumbar spinal segment dysfunction, sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, or muscle spasm at any point along the nerve. Your physical therapist can help identify where your symptoms are starting from and provide appropriate treatments to alleviate pressure on the nerve and decrease your pain.

A cough, a sneeze, or a quick movement might send your pain through the roof. Finding a comfortable position may be difficult. Sleep is often interrupted. Movement can increase symptoms, yet learning to move in the correct ways will help your symptoms.

See your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms with your pain:

• Loss of bowel or bladder function

• Muscle weakness of one or both legs, inability to move one or both legs

• Loss of feeling of one or both legs from the buttock, leg, or foot

Physical therapy will help you by moving or mobilizing the joint(s) that are causing symptoms and decreasing spasm of muscles in the area through a variety of hands on techniques. Improving the joint and muscle issues will decrease your pain by taking away the pressure on the sciatic nerve. We will also educate you on ways to prevent these issues from reoccurring, and teach you appropriate stretches or strengthening exercises to use at home.

If you’re experiencing the sharp pain of sciatica, don’t delay, call your physical therapist today! If you are not sure if the pain you are experiencing is from sciatica, give us a call, write us an email, or complete a free consultation. We can help get you started on the right path.

Phone: (763) 645 - 1113
Email: info@shiftptwell.com

Written by: Renee Hancock, Physical Therapist