Sciatica

Sciatica is the term for leg discomfort, weakness, tingling, or numbness. It is brought on by pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a sign of a health issue. By itself, it is not a medical condition.

Sciatica Symptoms:

Pain from sciatica can vary greatly. It could have a slight burning, aching, or tingling feeling. Sometimes the pain is so bad that it prevents the sufferer from moving.

One side is typically the site of the pain. Some patients experience numbness in certain areas of their leg or hip and severe pain in another. The sole of the foot or the back of the calf may also experience discomfort or numbness. One leg may feel weaker than the other. Walking might occasionally cause your foot to become caught in the ground.

The pain may start slowly. It may get worse:

• After standing or sitting
• During certain times of the day, such as at night
• When sneezing, coughing, or laughing, especially if caused by a herniated disk
• When bending backward or walking more than a few yards or meters, especially if caused by spinal stenosis
• When straining or holding your breath, such as during a bowel movement

Sciatica Causes:

Sciatica results from irritation of the root(s) of your lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine. A herniated disk causes most cases of sciatic pain. Other common causes of sciatica include:

• Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in your lower back)
• Degenerative disk disease (breakdown of disks, which act as cushions between the vertebrae)
• Spondylolisthesis (a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over another one)
• Pregnancy
• Muscle spasm in the back or buttocks

Sciatica Diagnosis:

If your pain is severe or causing symptoms like muscle weakness, the doctor might order imaging tests to check for bone spurs and herniated disks. You could get tests like:

• X-ray, which makes pictures of the inside of your body, to check for bone spurs.
• CT scan, which combines a series of X-rays to get a better look at your spinal cord and spinal nerves.
• MRI, which uses radio waves and magnets to create pictures of your insides to get a detailed look at your back and spine.
• Electromyography (EMG), which measures how fast nerve signals travel through your muscles. This is to see if a herniated disk is compressing nerves that control muscles.

Sciatica Treatment:

• Physical therapy: You can increase your flexibility, relieve strain on your sciatic nerve, and improve your posture with the help of a physical therapist. They will instruct you on strengthening the muscles that support your back.
• Steroid injections: Your physician may advise you to have cortisone shots or other steroid injections. For some people, this medication may lessen pain by reducing inflammation surrounding the nerve. The benefits of the shot, if it is effective for you, typically wear off after a few months.
• Alternative therapies: Occasionally, people decide to use unconventional techniques to manage their ailments. While they might not be as effective for sciatica pain as they are for other types of lower back pain, alternative therapies could include: 

1. Acupuncture
2. Spine adjustments from a chiropractor
3. Massage therapy

• Cold packs: Your doctor or physical therapist can show you how to use these and tell you what kind to get. But they might suggest you put a cold pack (or a pack of frozen peas wrapped in cloth) on your lower back several times a day for up to 20 minutes each time.
• Hot packs: If your pain doesn’t get better with a cold pack, your doctor might suggest you alternate with heat after a few days. If you use a heating pad, always use the lowest setting so you don’t burn your skin.
• Stretching and moving around: You can rest for a few days if you’re in a lot of pain, but movement is generally a good thing for sciatica pain. 

Sciatica exercises: Examples of stretches and exercises that may ease sciatica pain include:

• Glute bridges
• Lying knee-to-chest stretches
• Clamshells
• Bird dogs
• Child’s pose stretch
• Hamstring stretches
• Pelvic

Why Do You Come to Spine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) for Sciatica Treatment ?

Our physiotherapy staff in Shyamoli is very skilled in treating Sciatica Treatment. Before treating you, we must first assess the patient, discuss with them, and create a treatment plan. We offer shockwave therapy, acupuncture therapy, electromagnetic field therapy, intermittent cryotherapy, and more. We can immediately relieve your pain.  

Click for Appointment