How to Deal With Sciatica: Tips and Tricks
If you are struggling with sciatica, you are not alone. The condition is one of the most common causes of low back and leg pain, and can be brought on by a number of different factors. Read on to learn more about the condition and how you can treat it. This blog post provides information about sciatica, which is a common cause of low back and leg pain.
Sciatic Nerve
If you’re experiencing pain in the sciatic nerve area, you’re not alone. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back, to the buttocks, to the legs, becomes irritated. This condition often results in shooting pain, numbness, and pins and needles. The sciatic nerve originates from the lower lumbar spine and upper sacral nerves. They conjoin to form this thick nerve which goes down the leg and branches several more times.
What are the Risk Factors for Sciatica?
Some of the most common risk factors I address in regards to sciatic nerve pain are sourced in two things. These two things are lifestyle problems and structural problems. Lifestyle problems are caused by poor posture, prolonged sitting, and heavy lifting without proper training. Structural problems are related to lifestyle issues, but are more specific. The diagnosis include, but are not limited to, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and even disk problems (such as a herniated disk).
Sciatica Exercises
Sciatica is difficult to prescribe exercises for.There is no specific sciatica stretch that I like to prescribe. FAST sciatica relief often comes with manual release of tight muscles, stiff joints, or a combination of the two. Sciatic exercises can cause complications such as inflammation, burning sensations, and pain. The professionals at Kinito Physical Therapy are trained in the manipulation of joints associated with the cause of sciatica. When over-the-counter medicines aren’t working, manual therapy can serve as a method of relieving sciatic related pain quickly. Nerve lengthening exercises use peripheral joint movements to improve mobility and free up tension along the sciatic nerve.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Some neurological problems warrant a quick response. If a patient has bilateral symptoms, often with pain down both legs and with or without other strange symptoms such as new bowel or bladder problems or leg weakness, we will probably not be able to help them. If you are having symptoms such as this, it is smart for you to see a Medical Doctor. The type of sciatic that is treatable by a PT usually affects only the muscles, joints, and nerve to a degrees where life is still ‘liveable’ and no other smooth muscles functions are affected.
Some of the things we have been trained in are special screenings and intakes designed to catch serious neurological diseases such as cauda equina syndrome. We are also trained to discover serious injuries sustained after a traffic accident/car wreck, which might help in preventing a serious neurological injury. The radiculopathy associated with spinal stenosis should not accompany serious and progressing weakness of the leg; if this is the case, you need to go to the Emergency Room or call your physician immediately.
Wrapping it up!
In summary, sciatic is honestly a diagnosis that is thrown on people when there is pain down their leg. The PT’s at Kinito Physical Therapy are trained in the art of finding the TRUE problem that is causing the symptoms associated with sciatica. If you are looking to learn about new ways to acheive sciatica relief and learn all of the latest and great sciatica exercises and sciatica stretches, reach out to your favorite physical therapists as Kinito Physical Therapy! We are just a phone call or text away at 4056330783. See you soon!
