We recently saw a patient who was struggling with intense, radiating pain down his left leg. It was severe enough that he struggled to perform day-to-day activities. Even walking around his house was difficult. It was clear to us he had developed sciatica. Fortunately, physiotherapy for sciatica offers a highly effective approach to managing this condition and helping you regain mobility and comfort.
If you’re suffering from the sharp, shooting pain of sciatica, finding effective relief can be life-changing. Sciatica is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the leg. At For Health's Sake, we focus on identifying the root cause of your sciatica, which helps you find long-term relief.
The patient we saw recently had the right idea in visiting our Downtown Toronto, ON, Leslieville, ON, and Kingsway, ON clinic to address his sciatic pain. If you’re dealing with radiating leg pain, give us a call–we’ll work hard to find a solution that suits your needs!
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica isn’t really a condition in and of itself. Instead, it’s a sign that something is irritating or compressing the nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve. You then feel that discomfort throughout the sciatic nerve, which is why you’ll typically experience symptoms in your leg, even though the source of the pain is typically in your back.
Those symptoms include the following:
- Sharp, shooting, or burning pain that radiates down the leg
- Numbness or tingling, especially in the leg or feet
- A sense of weakness in the leg
So what causes sciatica? In the vast majority of cases, sciatica can be traced to a herniated disc, which occurs when one of the intervertebral discs in your spine bulges or ruptures and presses up against the sciatic nerve root.
Spinal stenosis can also cause sciatica-like symptoms. This condition develops when the spinal column narrows, putting pressure on the nerves there, including the sciatic nerve roots.
How Physiotherapy Helps Address Sciatica
When you visit For Health's Sake, you can expect a thorough evaluation to determine the cause and extent of your sciatica. Our physiotherapists will review your medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle to pinpoint the reason for your sciatica. From there, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan that effectively addresses the underlying cause.
In most cases, physiotherapy for sciatica means addressing a bulging or herniated disc. Here’s what you can expect:
Acute Sciatica Pain Management
- We know sciatica is painful. We’ll use techniques such as manual therapy (i.e., soft tissue manipulation) or modalities (i.e., hot or cold therapy) to provide acute pain relief and promote blood flow to your lower back, helping to facilitate healing.
Exercises to Improve Mobility
- We’ll guide you through stretches and other exercises designed to increase the range of motion in the spine. This helps reduce pain and makes it easier for you to move.
Exercises to Strengthen Your Core
- Your core muscles (which include the muscles in your back) help support and stabilize your spine, relieving pressure from the joints. Targeted exercises help strengthen these muscles and reduce spinal pressure.
Prevent Future Sciatica Occurrences
- We’ll give you the tools you need to avoid future occurrences of sciatica. We might help you improve your overall posture or help you identify movements and activities that might lead to injury, such as improper lifting techniques.
Physiotherapy for Sciatica: A Non-Invasive Option!
At For Health's Sake, we aim to improve overall health and well-being by addressing the underlying causes of sciatica. If you think you might benefit from physiotherapy for sciatica, schedule an appointment today!