Sciatica
Risk factors for sciatica include age, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and occupations that involve heavy lifting or prolonged sitting. Treatment typically focuses on pain relief, improving posture, and addressing the underlying cause.
What Is Sciatica ?
Sciatica is a condition characterized by pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. The pain often affects only one side of the body and can range from mild to severe. Sciatica is typically caused by irritation, inflammation, or compression of the sciatic nerve, often due to a herniated or slipped disc in the spine. Other common causes include spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), degenerative disc disease, or a misaligned spine. Muscle spasms or tightness, especially in the lower back or gluteal muscles, can also contribute to sciatica by pressing on the nerve.
What Are The Symptoms Of Sciatica ?
The symptoms of sciatica typically include pain that radiates from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down one leg. This pain can range from a mild ache to sharp, burning, or shooting sensations, often worsening with movement, coughing, or sneezing. Many people also experience numbness or tingling along the sciatic nerve’s path, particularly in the leg or foot. In some cases, the pain may cause weakness in the affected leg, making it difficult to stand or walk. Sciatica is often accompanied by muscle spasms, which can make it even harder to move comfortably. The pain usually affects only one side of the body. Symptoms may vary in intensity, and while some people experience relief within a few weeks, others may find that the pain becomes chronic and significantly impacts daily activities.
What Is Our Approach To Fixing/Treating Sciatica ?
If you’re suffering from sciatica-related leg pain, you’ve probably already tried chiropractic care, massage therapy, pain injections, or even started an exercise program, but may not be sure what to focus on or how much to push yourself versus how much to rest
The old-school approach of bed rest simply doesn’t work. It’s been proven that this method isn’t effective in treating sciatica. In fact, it can lead to bigger problems, affecting your overall cardiovascular function. Sciatica can severely impact your lifestyle, making long car rides difficult due to pain when getting in and out of the car. Often, sciatica-related leg pain is sharp and can cause your legs or knees to buckle while walking, creating a safety risk. This unpredictability is not only dangerous but also creates uneasiness and reduces confidence, which may stop you from participating in the activities you enjoy.
At We Got Your Back PT, Pilates, & Wellness, we have an effective solution. We conduct a thorough medical history interview to understand your past lower body symptoms and identify the true cause of your pain. The culprit of your pain may be completely unrelated to the side or location of your symptoms, which is why injections often fail and pain medications just mask the issue without providing real relief.
Pain is your body’s way of telling you something’s wrong and masking it with injections or quick fixes doesn’t solve the underlying problem. We’re committed to providing long-term solutions through quality care. Our approach includes tailored exercises that work for you, as well as body awareness techniques to help you know how far to push yourself.
We also use manual therapy with skilled osteopathic techniques to reset your muscles at a neurological level, promoting lasting relief. We’re not looking for a quick fix; we’re focused on identifying the root cause of your pain to get you back to doing what you love.
Download Our Free Report
Is sciatica pain severely limiting your life? Our free sciatica pain report provides you with valuable tips and tricks to alleviate discomfort from your home, information on the condition, and actionable next steps you can take to start feeling better. Don’t wait for the pain to get worse – take control of your recovery today!