Pain, irritation, numbness, or weakness in the back could be coming from the sciatic nerve. If you suffer from back pain, there is much truth to the age-old statement that “you’ve got some nerve”! The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body. Sometimes it is challenging to identify where back pain originates from, and sometimes you can pinpoint it reasonably easily. Dr. Brent Marr from ProActive Physical Therapy with 9 locations in Tucson, AZ, shares details on precisely what can cause sciatic pain, symptoms, relief, and treatment options.
Where is the sciatic nerve located?
The sciatic nerve originates in the lower spine made up of motor and sensory nerves that exit the spine from L4-S3 (Lumbosacral), then forms a thick common nerve that runs through the buttock into the back of the leg, then terminates at the foot.
What causes sciatic nerve pain?
Sciatic nerve pain is caused by any entrapment or irritation of the nerve. This can occur where the nerve exits the spine in the lower back or anywhere along the buttock, leg, or foot where the nerve pathway runs. If the pain stems from the lower back, we call it lumbar radiculopathy. If it stems from somewhere along the nerve pathway, we call it sciatic neuropathy.
What are the most common symptoms of sciatica?
The most common symptoms are pain, numbness/tingling, or weakness below the site of the pathology (from the lower back into the buttock and down the back of the leg). These symptoms can be brought on by altering body position, prolonged positions, repetitive motions, or tension on the nerve. There are no specific gold standard symptoms because there can be so many different reasons the sciatic nerve is irritated. If it is coming from the back, the symptoms may present differently than if it is coming from the buttock/leg.
How soon can you find pain relief after physical therapy?
Relief can be found within the first treatment. The biggest goal for any therapist is to figure out what structure impairs the nerve and treat those structures accordingly.
What is the best treatment for sciatica nerve pain?
Again, there are many different treatments because of how the sciatic nerve can be affected. If it comes from the back, we will focus on what structures in the back affect the nerve, which may involve soft tissue mobilizations, manual traction, or spinal joint mobilizations. If it comes from the buttock or leg, we may utilize instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), trigger point dry needling, and manual nerve glides.
What are some home exercises to help relieve sciatica nerve pain?
Initially, we would have the patient begin with some self-mobilization techniques to loosen up musculoskeletal structures. Then some stretches of the lower back and lower extremities to improve tissue extensibility. Lastly, we would incorporate some nerve glides to keep the sciatic nerve moving freely from the lower back to the foot.
Physical therapy can be an excellent tool for those who suffer back pain due to sciatic nerve pain. ProActive Physical Therapy provides hands-on physical therapy to patients throughout the greater Tucson area. Our highly trained staff has expertise in many areas and can help you with any pain or injury you are suffering from. If you are in pain, schedule a free injury assessment today.
