WHAT IS SCIATICA?

Sciatica is a pain that comes from your sciatic nerve that can cause lower back pain. Sciatica is often described as a burning pain that travels from your buttocks down the back of your leg. The degree of irritation of your sciatic nerve will affect how far down your leg you feel sciatic nerve pain. Your sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in your body. Your spinal nerves in your lower back, L4-S3, can become irritated and send pain signals along your sciatic nerve causing sciatica. The pain of Sciatica can be helped with physiotherapy to help settle down your irritated sciatic nerve.

WHAT CAUSED MY SCIATICA?

Sciatica symptoms are caused by external pressure on your spinal nerves after the nerve exits your lower spine. Common reasons for your spinal nerves to become irritated are from a disc bulge that pushes directly onto the nerve or arthritic changes in your lumbar spinal vertebrae. Common ways you may have irritated your sciatic nerve are by lifting something too heavy or incorrectly, lifting and twisting together, from repetitive movements or poor posture that created wear and tear in your vertebrae over time.

HOW CAN PHYSIOTHERAPY HELP SCIATICA?

Physiotherapy treatment can help sciatic nerve pain by helping to settle down your nerve irritation. Your Physiotherapist at City Physio will ensure all of your spinal vertebral segments are mobilised and moving well. We will also work on any relevant soft tissue or nerve mobility restrictions you may have.  Your physiotherapist will also teach you self mobilisation and strengthening exercises to improve your posture and re-educate any muscles that aren’t as strong as they should be. At city physiotherapy, we will not only focus on your lower back but ensure your mid back and your hips are also moving well as this will help unload any additional pressure on your sciatic nerve.

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