Physical Therapy to Relieve Sciatica Pain

If you are experiencing persistent pain radiating from your lower back down one of your legs, there is a chance that you are suffering from sciatica. While for some the pain from sciatica can be severe, only in rare cases is significant medical intervention called for. In most patients, physical therapy and time should be enough to relieve the pain and/or numbness associated with the condition.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain, tingling or numbness relating to pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down each leg.

Because of this, sciatica isn’t a disease or injury as much as it is a symptom of a different problem.

In sciatica, the pain generally follows the path of the nerve, traveling from the lower back through the hip and buttock to the back of the thigh. In some severe cases the pain can reach the calf or lower foot as well.

The pain can range from dull to shooting. It is not uncommon for one portion of the leg to experience pain while another part is numb. In severe cases that involve significant leg weakness or lessened bladder or bowel control, your physician might recommend surgery.

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Sciatica?

The first step in treating sciatica is identifying the likely cause. The most common cause is a herniated disc or bone spur in the spine. Other possibilities include spinal stenosis or Piriformis syndrome.

If, for instance, the cause is a herniated disc, then some of the physical therapy treatment options for that can also help with the sciatica.

Depending upon the cause as well as the severity of the symptoms, the physical therapist can then take the patient through a series of stretches and exercises designed to alleviate the pain associated with the condition and promote healing in the lower back, with the goal being to restore a pain-free range of motion.

Contact Comprehensive Rehab for More Information

If you live in the Clinton or Maquoketa, Iowa, area and are interested in physical therapy treatments for sciatica, contact us to schedule an appointment.