What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is the term used to describe the symptoms of leg pain, sometimes accompanied by tingling, numbness and/or muscle weakness. These symptoms arise from disruption or irritation of the sciatic nerve.
Sciatic nerve pain can often vary in its intensity and frequency, however most sufferers describe a sharp, radiating pain moving up and down the back of the leg.
Sciatica, or sciatic pain is not a medical diagnosis, but rather a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica symptoms include:
- Constant shooting pain in only one side of the buttock or leg (sciatica pain rarely occurs in both legs)
- Pain that is worse when sitting
- Leg pain that is often described as burning, tingling, or searing (versus a dull ache)
- Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg, foot, and/or toes
- A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up or walk
- Pain that radiates down the leg and possibly into the foot and toes (it rarely occurs only in the foot)
How does sciatica cause my pain?
In the picture, you can see that each individual nerve root will innervate a different area of the body. These areas are called dermatomes, and while they are slightly different for each person, they can be mapped out, as seen in the diagram.
The Sciatic nerve originates from nerve roots of L4 to S3 in the lumbar spine (lower back) that combine to form the Sciatic nerve, the largest single nerve in the body. Sciatica occurs when the Sciatic nerve is compressed at, or near its origin. Nerve compression may occur for a number of reasons, including a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis or spinal stenosis. In some cases, you may also develop a lack of bowel or bladder function. This is a sign of cauda equina syndrome (CES), which is a serious condition which requires immediate care.
Sciatica-like symptoms may also occur as the result of muscle tightness in the buttock region, a condition known as Piriformis Syndrome. While this is not true Sciatica, the symptoms can mimic that of true Sciatica. This is not an exhaustive list, but your physiotherapist will be able to diagnose the cause of your sciatic symptoms. The specific location of Sciatica symptoms depends on where the nerve is compressed. While sciatica can be very painful, it is rare that it results in permanent nerve damage.
How do I know what is causing my Sciatic nerve pain?
A thorough assessment performed by your physiotherapist at M Physio Australia is the best way to diagnose the cause of your sciatica. They will be able to guide on any extra investigations required and on the optimal treatment plan.
What can you do to treat Acute Sciatica?
Your M Physio physiotherapist will determine the best course of action with regard to your Sciatica pain. The course of action will depend on your individualised clinical diagnosis and the true cause of your sciatica.
Usually, treating sciatica with physiotherapy will involve de-sensitising the nerve and/or nerve roots through manual therapy, and strengthening supporting structures, while stretching any tight structures, such as in the case of Piriformis Syndrome.
We offer sciatica treatment at our Brisbane and Gold Coast clinics
What should I avoid to help my Sciatica?
- Avoid smoking.
- Avoid prolonged sitting.
- Avoid sitting with slumped posture, or bending down to pick things up using a stoop lift.
- RECEIVE physiotherapy care to relieve pain and get your body performing to its optimum level.
Keep good care of your body and have regular physiotherapy treatment for sciatica to continue monitoring your condition. Once your Sciatica has resolved you will be able to resume your full activities without worrying about future flare-ups.
Tips from our physiotherapists
Watch these videos for information and physical therapy exercises for sciatica.
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