If you are experiencing low back pain that you describe as “shooting pain” or “sharp pain,” you may suffer from sciatica. You might be wondering if there are home treatments that you can try right away and whether physical therapy for sciatica pain might help you.
How Do I Know I Have Sciatica?
You have a sciatic nerve on each side of your lower back. If one of these nerves is pinched or injured, you will feel a sharp pain on one side of your back. The pain may stretch down your leg and even to your foot. You might also feel numbness in your foot and leg. You will probably find it difficult to keep up your normal walking, bending, and sitting activities.
What Hurts My Sciatic Nerve?
Many different things, such as injuries or spinal conditions can cause this excruciating condition. Some of the most common reasons that people develop sciatica are:
- Degenerating Spinal Discs
- Herniated Discs
- Long Periods Of Inactivity (Especially Sitting Down)
- Carrying Heavy Items
- Pregnancy
- Being Overweight
- Injuries
Find Relief From Agonizing Pain
You might try using one (or several) of these simple options:
- Heating Pad
- Ice Packs
- Alternating Heat With Ice
- Sleeping With A Pillow Between Your Knees
- Sitting Or Sleeping In A Recliner
- Warm Baths
- Walking Around Your Neighborhood
- Over The Counter Medications
- Gentle Yoga
When Is It Time To Get Physical Therapy?
Professional therapists can facilitate your recovery. If you want some assistance in your rehabilitation or are experiencing any of the following, it’s time to get some help.
- Home Remedies Are Ineffective
- Pain That Lasts More Than A Week
- Sciatica As A Result Of Injury
- Incontinence
- Limited Mobility
What Is Recommended For Sciatica?
After examining you, your physical therapist will design a personalized rehabilitation program. This program will probably include exercises that your therapist assists you in doing in the office and an exercise routine to follow at home. According to spinehealth.com, these exercises might include:
- Backward Extensions & Forward Bends
- Strengthening Exercises
- Isometric Exercises
- Isotonic Exercises
- Learning Safe Lifting Techniques (Functional Retraining)
- Assisted Range-Of-Motion Stretches
- Gait Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How Do I Know If My Back Pain Is Sciatica?
If you experience sharp, shooting pain on one side of your lower back that radiates down your leg, or if you have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your leg or foot, you may have sciatica. Difficulty walking, bending, or sitting comfortably are also common indicators. A physical therapist or doctor can help confirm the diagnosis.
2. Can Sciatica Go Away on Its Own?
Mild cases of sciatica can sometimes improve with home remedies such as heat and ice therapy, stretching, over-the-counter pain relievers, and movement. However, if pain persists for more than a week, worsens, or is caused by an injury, professional physical therapy may be necessary to prevent long-term complications.
3. How Can Physical Therapy Help Sciatica?
Physical therapy can help relieve sciatic nerve pain by strengthening muscles, improving posture, and increasing flexibility. A personalized PT program may include guided stretches, core-strengthening exercises, functional movement training, and pain relief techniques to reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups.
4. When Should I Seek Professional Treatment for Sciatica?
It’s time to see a physical therapist if home treatments aren’t relieving your pain, if your pain lasts longer than a week, or if sciatica follows an injury such as a fall or accident. You should also seek help if you experience loss of bladder or bowel control or if your mobility is severely affected, making it difficult to walk or perform daily activities.
5. What Are the Best Exercises for Sciatica?
Your physical therapist will design a custom program based on your specific condition, but common therapeutic exercises for sciatica may include gentle stretching such as forward bends and spinal extensions, core and lower back strengthening to support spinal alignment, range-of-motion exercises to reduce stiffness, functional training for safer lifting, sitting, and movement, and gait training to improve walking mechanics and reduce strain on the sciatic nerve.
Regain Your Life Back From Sciatica
If you are ready to begin recovering from sciatica, we will help you. Centennial Sports & Physical Therapy specializes in outpatient physical therapy for sports injuries, car accidental injuries, and orthopedic patients. We are located in Spokane Valley, Washington. Call our experienced staff to make an appointment today.
