Sciatica

The term sciatica is thrown around a lot. But, what exactly is it? Sciatica is a condition characterized by pain, tingling, and/or numbness that radiates along the sciatic nerve, usually affecting one side of the lower back, buttocks, and leg. This nerve issue can be caused by a variety of different areas of compression or entrapment along it’s path.  However, the most frequent cause of sciatica is a disc herniation (aka “disc bulge”) in the lumbar spine, compressing on the nerve. 

The Role of Disc Herniation:

Intervertebral discs act as cushions between the vertebrae, and when one of these discs herniates, it protrudes and presses against nearby nerves.

Common Symptoms:

Sciatica with disc herniation can manifest as sharp, shooting pain, weakness, and numbness in the affected leg. The pain may worsen with movement, sitting, or sneezing, and can significantly impact daily activities and overall quality of life.

Conservative Treatment:

Fortunately, many cases of sciatica with disc herniation can be effectively managed with conservative treatment, like physical therapy.

• Try these exercises to combat the symptoms of sciatica: 

• Sciatic Nerve Glides
• This is designed to help gradually restore nerve mobility and desensitize the system.  Be cautious with these. You want to only reach the point of light tension – the goal is not to push it as much as you can. Think, higher reps at low intensity.
• Prone Press Ups
• This exercise has been shown to help reduce symptoms that are traveling down the leg. It’s great to do first thing in the morning, when symptoms are often at their peak.
• Cat-camel (also called cat-cow)
• This exercise is designed to promote spinal movement in an unloaded position. Your spine is suspended, just like a bridge, allowing for movement with much reduced compressive forces. Stay within your pain-free limits while performing.
• Bird Dogs
• This exercise is designed to activate stabilizing muscles to begin working on restoring strength & control of the spine. This is performed in a less compressive force position, but it can still be touch and too much in the acute phase.

This is a good starting point, but they aren’t the complete answer. You’ll want to incorporate more strength & dynamic training to reach your full potential, and prevent this from coming back. There are also manual techniques and modalities that can be used to help most efficiently work toward resolving the sciatica.  That’s where we can be your ally and work with you to set you up for success.

When to Seek Medical Attention:

While conservative treatments are often successful, individuals experiencing severe pain, loss of bladder or bowel control, or progressive weakness in the leg should seek medical attention immediately. This indicates excessive nerve compression that may require additional medical intervention. You can still reach out to us to find out what the most appropriate action is, and we can point you in the right direction.

It’s important to know that each person’s experience with sciatica is unique. There are several variables to consider. And the conservative path is not the best option for everyone. 

Watch the video demonstration to learn how you can see how to properly perform these exercises!