What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is not a condition or diagnosis, but a group of symptoms that arise when the spinal nerves are irritated or compressed. Sciatica most often occurs when a herniated or protruding disc puts pressure on the spinal nerve, causing inflammation, pain and numbness on the sciatic nerve area.
What are the Symptoms of Sciatica?
The most common symptoms of sciatica include pain, numbness, tingling and weaknesses throughout any region affected by the sciatic nerve. Symptoms vary widely on the individual, but the most common condition is that most people describe an intense back pain that runs down the length of the back and continues down the leg, from the buttocks to the toes.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica symptoms occur whenever anything causes a compression, inflammation or irritation of the lumbar nerve roots or sciatic nerve. The most common causes include:
- Lumbar disc bulge or herniation: a bulging or herniated disc can compress or inflame the nerve roots near the lumbar spine.
- Foraminal stenosis: the joints, discs and ligaments of your lumbar spine degenerate over time and grow larger, causing a narrowing of the lumbar nerve root pathway, increasing the likelihood of compression.
- Spondylolisthesis: if your vertebra slips forward, it can create pressure and traction on the nerve that exists between the two vertebrae.
- Piriformis syndrome: any pressure placed on the sciatic nerve as it passes under the piriformis muscle, causing leg pain, tingling or numbness in the back and buttocks.
- Central stenosis: a narrowing of the main (central) spinal canal places pressure on the neural structures, causing compression of the spinal cord.
How to Treat Sciatica?
Physiotherapy is one of the most common and effective ways to treat sciatica. Physio treatments can be aimed at improving spinal mobility, strength or endurance, and may include manual therapy, acupuncture, spinal decompression or traction. Our traction equipment allows us to gently decompress your spine, allowing your injured discs to heal.
If you are suffering from sciatica, contact our physiotherapy clinic to book an assessment of your health in order to elevate your performance.
