February 2006
I am experiencing pain that seems to be in my buttock/low back and travels down my entire leg. Is this Sciatica? Will this pain go away on its own or what can I do to help get rid of it?
The term Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve which travels from the pelvis, through the hip and down the leg. Therefore, pain will often be felt in the back, buttock and/or the leg. This pain can range from very mild in nature to significantly debilitating, and may be accompanied by tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness. Sciatica usually results from the compression of a nerve root. Commonly, this compression can result from a herniated disk, or piriformis syndrome (tightening of the piriformis muscle located in the buttock region).
In mild cases, the symptoms may go away in a few weeks with the use of rest, medications, and the use of other agents including hot or cold packs. However, the pain can often limit your ability to function with normal daily activities and/or work while trying to rest and recover. Physical therapy can help speed up the recovery time and get you back on your feet faster. At Sport & Spine Physical Therapy, we strive to educate you on the cause of your pain, while teaching you how to control your symptoms through postural retraining, stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises of the spine. Also, with the utilization of various equipment, we can further aid in controlling the pain by decreasing inflammation and muscular tightness while improving range of motion.Jessica King, PT |
