Do I have Sciatica? Everything You Need to Know

What is Sciatica? 

Sciatica is a painful condition characterised by injury or inflammation, resulting in referred pain to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve starts at the spine, and runs down the back of each leg through the glutes and hips to the knee. Sciatica is not a condition in itself, but is a term used to describe pain in the sciatic nerve, and is a symptom of an issue with the sciatic nerve. 

The pain is most commonly felt either in the lower back, or in the back of the legs. Even if you only feel the pain at the back of the leg or thigh, in most cases the cause of the problem is in the spine. 

There are two types of sciatica. 

• True sciatica is any condition or injury that directly affects your sciatic nerve.
• Sciatica-like conditions feel like sciatica, but are caused by different conditions related to the sciatic nerve.

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica can be caused by anything that results in inflammation or an injury to the sciatic nerve. The most common causes include: 

• A slipped or herniated disk applying pressure to the sciatic nerve. 
• Injury within the spine. 
• Frequent muscle spasms. 
• Some forms of arthritis. 

What are Common Symptoms for Sciatica?

Pain 

The most common symptoms you will experience if you have sciatica is pain. There is a varied level of pain that could be experienced, including mild tingling or a dull ache, all the way up to a burning sensation or sharp acute pain. It is most often felt in the glute or back of the leg, but can radiate across the length of the leg or up into the spine. 

Most of the time, you will only feel the pain down one side of your body, with one of the two sciatic nerves experiencing inflammation. Depending on the severity, you may sometimes feel pain in the foot or toes of the affected leg as well. 

The pain will often be worse when sitting down, which can make it hard to stand up when sitting down. The pain can also feel worse when you cough or sneeze. For some people, this pain might be infrequent, thus easy to manage, but it has the potential to get worse. For others, the pain can be severe and debilitating. 

Numbness or muscle weakness 

There are other symptoms that you may experience, either as well as or instead of pain. This can include a tingling feeling or numbness, which can also be felt in the feet and toes. 

Muscle spasms 

People suffering from sciatica have reported a feeling of muscle spasms near the nerve, near the lower back, glutes, hips, or along the back of the thighs. 

What are the major risk factors?

There are a number of risk factors that can increase your chances of experiencing sciatica: 

• A pre-existing injury to the sciatic nerve, lower back or spine.
• Having weak core strength, which puts extra pressure on the spine. Your core muscles include the abdomen, glutes, and back. 
• Ageing, which contributes to increased wear and tear on the spine. 
• Arthritis limits mobility of the nerve and spine. 
• Having low mobility or not regularly exercising. A low level of fitness or physical activity increases pressure on the spine.

Can I lower my risk factor?

Like most injuries, you cannot entirely prevent sciatica from occurring. Some risk factors, such as age and arthritis, are unavoidable. Some risk factors, however, you can attempt to reduce by limiting the impact your daily activities have on your spine: 

• Maintain a good posture when standing and sitting.
• Regularly move to reduce stress on your back – try not to sit or stand still for a long period of time.
• Try to incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine, to improve your general fitness. 
• Use core exercises to improve your core strength.

Physio Treatment for Sciatica

The simple answer to this question is to come and visit a physiotherapist at City Physio! It is important to consult a healthcare professional when experiencing suspected sciatica, pain or discomfort. We are conveniently located in the heart of the Adelaide CBD to be able to treat you for any scatica you may be experiencing.

Personalised Treatment and Exercise Plans

We can perform a number of different treatments and devise a personalised exercise plan to help you recover and experience some relief from the debilitating symptoms of sciatica. The main goal of physiotherapy when treating sciatica is to find exercise that relieves pressure on the sciatic nerve. 

Performing simple exercises can help provide pain relief by decreasing muscle tension, increasing blood flow to the body, improving core stability and strength, and improving posture. 

Some recommended exercises usually include:

• Stretching. 
• Low impact exercise, such as walking, running, or swimming.
• Remedial Massage.

Back Pain Rehabilitation Classes

Depending on the severity of your condition, City Physio also offers Back Pain & Core Strength Physio Rehab Classes. 

This class is recommended for anyone who suffers from lower back or spinal pain, has a lumbar disc injury, sacroiliac joint pain, or back muscle pain and strains. The class contains a series of exercises and stretches to target the problematic muscles, including hip flexors and back muscles. You will learn how to activate your core stabilising muscles, and will work on improving the mobility of your hips and spine in your lumbo-pelvic region.

About City Physio

At City Physio Adelaide, we see patients of all ages, levels of ability, and fitness. If you have noticed pain in your lower back, upper legs, or glutes and hip area, do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our physios. We understand that sciatica can be a debilitating condition, so it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. We are committed to seeing you get back on track and will look after you during your journey to wellness. 

Enquire about our Back Pain Classes, or consult a physiotherapist to determine the best treatment options for you, by calling us or booking online through the booking button below.

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