How To Find Relief From Sciatica
Frank’s pain was the worst he’d ever felt. It started in his lower back but then radiated down the back of his leg all the way to his toes. Sometimes, he felt numbness or tingling in his leg, which he found especially concerning. But worst of all, this radiating pain made it almost impossible for him to get around.
Eventually, Frank visited his physical therapist, where he learned this pain had a specific term: sciatica. Its name comes from the fact that it affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down into the foot.
Frank also learned that his sciatica, like most people’s, came courtesy of a herniated disc in his lumbar spine. Fortunately, physical therapy is a frontline treatment for herniated discs, and with a month of regular PT sessions, Frank resolved his pain.
Are you experiencing radiating leg pain like Frank? If so, reach out to us at ReQuest Physical Therapy. We can help you know for certain if your pain is sciatica or another similar condition — and we can help you find relief with a customized treatment plan.
Call today to schedule your initial consultation!
What Is Sciatica? Symptoms and Causes
Sciatica is a somewhat misunderstood condition. Many people refer to any radiating pain in the back and legs as “sciatica.” In reality, sciatica only refers to pain that stems from pressure or irritation on the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica’s main symptom is pain that starts in the lower back, radiates into the buttocks, and then runs down the back of one leg into the foot, following the path of the affected sciatic nerve. Often, the leg pain will be worse than the back pain.
However, other symptoms often indicate sciatica, including the following:
- Muscle spasms in the back
- “Pins and needles” sensations in the leg and/or foot
- Numbness in the leg and/or foot
- Shooting or burning pain deep in the buttocks or legs
- Weakness in the affected leg
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched, compressed, or irritated in some way. But what causes that nerve irritation in the first place?
For most people, as it was for Frank, the answer is a herniated disc. Your spinal vertebrae are cushioned and protected by flexible cartilage discs (spinal discs). If one of these discs bulges or ruptures so that it irritates or pinches the sciatic nerve, you’ll experience sciatica pain.
Other medical issues (such as a bone spur, inflammation related to pregnancy, or a tumor) can also cause sciatica, but these conditions are much more rare. If you have sciatica, the chances are good you have a herniated disc — and that’s something physical therapy can help resolve!
Physical Therapy’s Role in Promoting Good Health
When treating a herniated disc (and, by extension, sciatica), our therapists will move through the following steps:
- Manage Pain: We’ll develop a plan to address your acute pain, pulling from several options. Gentle spinal mobilizations, soft tissue manipulation of your back muscles, and pain relieving modalities such as TENS or hot and cold therapy can all help.
- Improve Mobility: Movement is crucial in addressing sciatica. Spinal mobilizations play an essential role here, allowing you to move the joint without exerting effort. We’ll also incorporate active stretches and mobility work to help ease range of motion restrictions and prepare your body for the next phase of treatment.
- Strengthen Your Back and Core: As your pain lessens, we’ll begin working to build strength in your core muscles, which stabilize and support your spine. By strengthening these muscles, you can alleviate the pressure on your lumbar spine that contributes to sciatic pain and a herniated disc.
- Educate to Prevent Future Pain: Finally, we can provide the tools to prevent a future bout of sciatica. We might help you develop a home exercise program to keep your spine healthy or show you how to properly lift heavy objects to avoid injury.
Find Sciatica Relief at ReQuest Physical Therapy
Sciatic pain can be incredibly intense and often debilitating. Regular physical therapy will help you resolve that pain — and the underlying cause — so you can get back to living a full, healthy life.
To get started with your own personalized sciatica treatment plan, call to schedule an appointment today!
Say Goodbye to Pain – Get Started with PT Now!
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ReQuest Rockstar! 🤘
Congratulations to our ReQuest PT Rock Star, Dr. Penny Goldberg, PT, DPT, ATC. The Rock All Star dinner recognizes individuals who are always going above and beyond in their efforts to help others. Thank you, Penny, for your dedicated service. We are so thankful for you and the way that you take care of our post-op and breast cancer patients.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“After years of back pain, I visited Jeff at Request. Jeff prepared an exercise plan for me, walked me through each step explaining in detail which muscles were being strengthened and prepared a chart for home use in between visits. I finally experienced relief from my long debilitating back pain. Yes, I will return to ReQuest for future physical therapy needs.”
– Wayne F.
Help! I Can’t Get Up and Moving!
Written by: Dr. Penny Goldberg, PT, DPT, ATC, Sports Therapist
If you are in a lot of pain and need a jump start to get yourself to the gym, there are a few things you can try:
1. Deep Breathing for Relaxation
Stress makes pain worse so focusing on staying calm and relaxed can help. Deep breathing can increase blood flow and even aid in getting to sleep. Find a quiet area where you can sit or lie down comfortably. Draw a slow breath in while you count to 4. Hold the breath for 1-2 seconds and then exhale for a count of 4. Do this for 5-10 minutes (or until you feel yourself relax) before slowly starting to move again.
2. Meditation
Research has shown mediation can be an effective way to manage pain. Meditation engages pathways in the brain that make it less sensitive to pain and increases the brain’s production of its own pain-reducing opioids (Endorphins). There are several apps that offer guided mediation as well as tons of internet gems.
3. Get Moving!
“The worst thing you can do is nothing.” For most conditions, bed rest can lead to even more pain. Slow, controlled movements and letting pain be your guide are the secret to success here. Try standing up and walking around a little bit. You may find that the first few steps are painful but with continued movement, the pain decreases.
If you have an ache you can’t shake, call us at 352-661-2574 to schedule a FREE orthopedic screening.
4 Simple Ways To Make Hydration A Habit
Many people are so busy that they barely have time to eat, let alone pause for a water break, and you may find that you often go hours and hours without quenching your thirst. But staying hydrated has real advantages, including helping you maintain your energy and focus. It’s important to give your drinking habits the attention they deserve. Here are some simple ways to stay hydrated this summer.
1. Always carry a water bottle. If you have a bottle within arm’s reach, it’s very likely that you’ll mindlessly sip from it throughout the day, without having to make a conscious effort.
2. When you’re feeling frazzled, grab a glass of cold water. Studies show that people instantly feel more alert after drinking H2O.
3. Sip on a mug of herbal tea every evening. If you make this a habit, you’ll add an extra cup of fluid to your body every single day.
4. Eat a diet rich in whole foods. By eating foods like vegetables, fruits, and yogurt, you’ll automatically up your fluid intake.
If you’re an elderly adult, it’s especially important to pay attention to hydration. Aging impairs the body’s natural thirst mechanisms, which makes it easier to become dehydrated. These tips should make hydration a habit in your life. Remember to always keep a water bottle as a physical reminder to drink even if you’re not thirsty.
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Renovations Currently Happening at GHF Main
A Message From Joe Cirulli, Founder & Owner
Back when I started GHF, I had to make a crucial decision about our future. Essentially, it boils down to two options: Do we build a model that can be replicated in multiple cities, or do we focus on serving one community to the best of our ability?
We chose to focus on you—our community in Gainesville. Our local focus has allowed us to grow from a modest 1,500 square foot center in 1978 (roughly the size of our current X-Force Body Studio) to an expansive 122,000 square foot campus. Starting in June 2024, we will adding 11,000 sq. ft. to our main gym facility.
Our commitment to meeting the unique needs of our community has led to a variety of specialized offerings, including a women’s-only center, our Tioga location, hundreds of new pieces of equipment, two outdoor training spaces, and a range of boutique fitness studios.
We’ve never stopped working to be better, and we’re not about to start now. Thank you for being a part of our journey for the past 45 years. Here’s to many more years of fitness, well-being, and community.
