Understanding the Roots of Sciatic Pain
Are you experiencing sharp, burning pain along one side of your hips, buttocks, and legs? You could have sciatica, a condition affecting the sciatic nerve. Fortunately, the physical therapists at Full Potential Physical Therapy in Holland, MI can help you identify the source of your sciatic pain and find a treatment option that works.
Sciatica is a common but often debilitating condition that affects approximately 40% of people at some point in their lives. It refers to pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates down the back of the leg. Discomfort from sciatica can range from mild to severe and, in some cases, may be accompanied by weakness or difficulty moving the affected leg.
Depending on the severity of your sciatica, it can profoundly affect your day-to-day life, preventing you from participating fully in leisure activities and sports, household chores, or work duties.
Sciatica is often misunderstood. People frequently use the term “sciatica” to refer to any pain in the lower limbs, but it specifically refers to pain brought on by issues with the sciatic nerve. Originating in the lower back, the sciatic nerve extends down the legs to the feet, and its affliction typically manifests as pain on one side or leg.
For this reason, an accurate diagnosis is crucial to effective sciatica treatment. Our expert physical therapists will use a combination of patient history, physical assessments, and imaging studies to identify the underlying cause of sciatic pain.
At Full Potential Physical Therapy in Holland, MI, we use a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to physical therapy to address the root cause of sciatica and alleviate its symptoms, fostering lasting relief and restoring function. Our results-oriented treatment approach will help you overcome pain, regain mobility, and reclaim control of your health and fitness.
Request an appointment today, and let us help you discover long-term relief from your sciatica!
What are the Common Causes of Sciatica?
Sciatica is not a medical issue in and of itself but a potential symptom of several different conditions, including herniated discs, bone spurs from degenerative changes, or injury. When these conditions irritate or trigger inflammation in the sciatic nerve, it leads to sciatica.
The physical therapists at Full Potential Physical Therapy will help you identify which condition is causing your sciatica, then provide treatment to address it while also helping you manage your pain. We want you to see results, which means addressing your pain at the source.
Here are some common conditions that can trigger sciatica or sciatica-like pain:
- Lumbar Herniated Disc: The most common cause of sciatica, a herniated disc, occurs when the soft, cushioning material between the vertebrae ruptures or bulges, compressing the nearby sciatic nerve.
- Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock region, can become tight or spasm, irritating the sciatic nerve.
- Spondylolisthesis: This condition occurs when a vertebra in the lower spine slips forward, potentially compressing the sciatic nerve. Although rare, if the slippage progresses past a certain level, surgery is required to stabilize and prevent a worsening of the condition.
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: Irritation or inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, where the spine meets the pelvis, can lead to sciatic-like pain.
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: This condition occurs when the spinal canal narrows, which can compress the nerves there, including the sciatic nerve. However, spinal stenosis usually affects both legs, whereas sciatica typically only affects one.
While most people recover from sciatica, multiple episodes are not uncommon–and, unfortunately, the pain tends to worsen each time you experience another episode. That’s why the results-oriented approach at Full Potential Physical Therapy is an effective treatment option. By addressing the source of your pain, we can prevent future flare-ups.
We’re committed to providing you with research-backed tools to alleviate your pain and prevent future recurrences so you can get back to a healthy, active lifestyle free from pain.
How Physical Therapy Can Help Resolve Sciatica
When you come in for treatment, our Holland, MI team of physical therapists will conduct a thorough physical examination to assess your range of motion, identify weaknesses, pinpoint the location and nature of your pain, and evaluate your symptoms and limitations. From there, we’ll be able to determine what condition is causing your sciatica so we can treat it accordingly.
We pull from several different evidence-based treatment approaches to address your current pain and its cause. Your treatment will be customized based on the condition causing your sciatic pain and any other needs you might have.
- If a herniated disc is causing your sciatica, we’ll use a combination of manual therapy, stretching, strengthening, mobility work, posture, and body mechanic modifications to alleviate pressure, relieve pain, and restore normal function.
- If spondylolisthesis is causing your sciatica, we’ll design a customized exercise program to stabilize the spine, improve core strength, and emphasize the steps needed to reduce pain and restore function.
- If piriformis syndrome is causing your sciatica, we’ll focus on targeted mobility work and strengthening exercises to relax the piriformis muscle, helping to reduce pain.
- If you’re struggling with sacroiliac joint dysfunction, we’ll address this dysfunction through manual therapy, tailored exercises, and postural adjustments to relieve pain and improve joint mobility.
- If you’re struggling with spinal stenosis, we’ll utilize mobility exercises, strength training, and coordination exercises to reduce symptoms and improve overall function.
No matter the source of your sciatica or sciatica-like pain, Full Potential Physical Therapy in Holland, MI will work closely with you to find the right combination of treatment approaches to relieve your pain and restore full function. In addition to education and in-clinic sessions, we’ll prescribe at-home exercises so you can see results faster.
You’ll be on your way to a pain-free, active lifestyle with our proven treatment approaches and customized care! Call (616) 392-2172 today to get started.
A Better Life is Only Four Steps Away
Physical therapy can be an unfamiliar experience for many. To orient new patients to the process, we have divided their rehab journey into four segments called “The Four Phases of Getting Better.” It is important to note that while there are four phases utilized over the course of your care, they are not totally separate. They move gradually toward greater strengthening and function, which is the end goal to return confidently to the life you desire to live.1
Pain Relief
The first focus in getting better is pain relief. After your evaluation, your physical therapist will use hands-on techniques or manual therapy, light therapeutic exercise, and education on how to modify your activity and posture in order to give you more control over your pain. In this stage, modalities like ice, heat, myofascial release, electric stimulation and kinesiotape may be used.
2
Improve Mobility/Flexibility
The second step in this method is to improve mobility and flexibility. Your therapist will design a progressive program of range of motion and light stretching to restore mobility and reduce pain.
3
Improve Strength/Control
In the third step of this method, muscle weakness will be addressed to help you maintain the gains and momentum you achieve through phases one and two. A thorough strengthening process is the step that gives results that last, and this will prepare you for more functional training – the final step.
4
Functional Training
Now that your pain is resolved and you have the necessary mobility and strength, your program can be advanced into functional training. Whether you are returning to work, returning to life after post-op rehabilitation, getting back into recreation or sports, or simply returning to the activities of daily life, this step helps ensure your success after graduation and empowers you to be confident in your abilities again.
Reach Your Full Potential & Live Pain-Free!
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