What is sciatica, and can physical therapy help?
Sciatica is pain, numbness, or tingling that travels from your lower back down through the buttock and leg, along the path of the sciatic nerve, usually because that nerve is being compressed or irritated where it exits the spine. For most people, physical therapy is an effective first-line treatment and relieves sciatica without surgery or long-term medication; clinical guidelines generally recommend conservative care like therapy before considering more invasive options. A physical therapist first pinpoints what’s compressing the nerve, whether it’s a herniated disc, a tight piriformis muscle, or something else, then uses targeted exercise, manual therapy, and movement retraining to take pressure off the nerve, calm the pain, and reduce the chance it comes back.
At Hands of Hope, our physical therapists across NYC take a results-oriented approach to sciatica. Because sciatica is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, an accurate assessment matters, so we identify the specific cause of your pain and build the plan around it, aiming for lasting relief rather than a temporary fix.
Request an appointment today, and let us help you discover long-term relief from your sciatica!
What are the Common Causes of Sciatica?
Sciatica is not a medical issue in and of itself but a potential symptom of several different conditions, including herniated discs, bone spurs from degenerative changes, or injury. When these conditions irritate or trigger inflammation in the sciatic nerve, it leads to sciatica.
The physical therapists at Hands of Hope will help you identify which condition is causing your sciatica, then provide treatment to address it while also helping you manage your pain. We want you to see results, which means addressing your pain at the source.
Here are some common conditions that can trigger sciatica or sciatica-like pain:
The most common cause of sciatica, a herniated disc, occurs when the soft, cushioning material between the vertebrae ruptures or bulges, compressing the nearby sciatic nerve.Â
The piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock region, can become tight or spasm, irritating the sciatic nerve.Â
This condition occurs when a vertebra in the lower spine slips forward, potentially compressing the sciatic nerve. Although rare, if the slippage progresses past a certain level, surgery is required to stabilize and prevent a worsening of the condition.Â
Irritation or inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, where the spine meets the pelvis, can lead to sciatic-like pain.Â
This condition occurs when the spinal canal narrows, which can compress the nerves there, including the sciatic nerve. However, spinal stenosis usually affects both legs, whereas sciatica typically only affects one.
While most people recover from sciatica, multiple episodes are not uncommon–and, unfortunately, the pain tends to worsen each time you experience another episode. That’s why the results-oriented approach at Hands of Hope is an effective treatment option. By addressing the source of your pain, we can prevent future flare-ups.
We’re committed to providing you with research-backed tools to alleviate your pain and prevent future recurrences so you can get back to a healthy, active lifestyle free from pain.
How Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Can Help Resolve Sciatica
When you come in for treatment, our Astoria, Atlantic Ave, Bard Ave, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Forest Hills, Manhattan, Morris Park Avenue, Mott Haven, South Bronx, Queens Village, Staten Island, Whitestone, Williamsburg or Woodhaven, NY team of physical therapists will conduct a thorough physical examination to assess your range of motion, identify weaknesses, pinpoint the location and nature of your pain, and evaluate your symptoms and limitations. From there, we’ll be able to determine what condition is causing your sciatica so we can treat it accordingly.
We pull from several evidence-based treatment approaches to address your current pain and its cause. Your treatment will be customized based on the condition causing your sciatic pain and any other needs you might have.
- If a herniated disc is causing your sciatica, we’ll use a combination of manual therapy, stretching, strengthening, mobility work, posture, and body mechanic modifications to alleviate pressure, relieve pain, and restore normal function.
- If spondylolisthesis is causing your sciatica, we’ll design a customized exercise program to stabilize the spine, improve core strength, and emphasize the steps needed to reduce pain and restore function.
- If piriformis syndrome is causing your sciatica, we’ll focus on targeted mobility work and strengthening exercises to relax the piriformis muscle, helping to reduce pain.
- If you’re struggling with sacroiliac joint dysfunction, we’ll address this dysfunction through manual therapy, tailored exercises, and postural adjustments to relieve pain and improve joint mobility.
- If you’re struggling with spinal stenosis, we’ll utilize mobility exercises, strength training, and coordination exercises to reduce symptoms and improve overall function.
- To manage intense sciatic pain regardless of cause, our physicians can provide advanced pain management techniques, such as a sciatic nerve block.
No matter the source of your sciatica or sciatica-like pain, Hands of Hope in Astoria, Atlantic Ave, Bard Ave, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Forest Hills, Manhattan, Morris Park Avenue, Mott Haven, South Bronx, Queens Village, Staten Island, Whitestone, Williamsburg and Woodhaven, NY will work closely with you to find the right combination of treatment approaches to relieve your pain and restore full function. In addition to education and in-clinic sessions, we’ll prescribe at-home exercises so you can see results faster.
You’ll be on your way to a pain-free, active lifestyle with our proven treatment approaches and customized care! Call (888) 808-0782 today to get started.