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Are you familiar with an electric shock feeling in your leg for seemingly no reason? Or does it happen when you cough, sneeze, or bend? If so, your sciatic nerve may be at play.
Compression of the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica, which has the potential to disrupt your life with its persistent discomfort. If you experience a sudden shooting pain radiating down your leg or notice numbness and tingling that won’t go away, you may be dealing with sciatica. However, there are physiotherapy options available that may assist in providing relief and helping you get back to doing what you love.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is more than just a simple ache or pain— it’s a complex condition where the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back to the buttocks and into the legs, and when it’s affected in this way, it may influence your movement and cause pain.
Causes of sciatica include:
- Prolapsed disc
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc diseases
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Arthritis
- Facet joint inflammation
- Muscle tightness
As the sciatic nerve is susceptible to pressure from various spinal, back, and neck conditions, including muscular tension, sciatica often leads to multiple symptoms that may disrupt your daily life.
Sciatica Symptoms
Sciatica symptoms will vary from person to person, may be mild to severe, and may come and go or remain persistent. Common symptoms include:
- Pain in the buttocks
- Pain that radiates down the leg
- Numbness or weakness in the leg muscles
- Tingling, or ‘pins and needles’
- Pain when lifting the leg
- Pain when pushing with the leg
- Pain in the hamstring
- Pain in the back of the thigh and calf
- Difficulty controlling or moving the leg
Sciatica Treatments
Recognising sciatica and seeking treatment as early as possible is key to managing the condition. Treatments will differ depending on factors such as the type of pain and how it affects you.
Some sciatica treatment options are:
- Massage
- Gentle manipulation
- Spine mobilisation
- Neural gliding
- Exercise prescription
- Stretching
- Occupational changes
- Education
At Ace Allied Health, we offer a holistic approach to sciatica treatment, combining manual therapy, exercise, and education to address the root cause of your pain.
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Your Sciatica Questions Answered
The length of time it takes to recover from sciatica will vary depending on the cause and severity of the condition. In many cases, sciatica pain may resolve in several weeks to a few months, while in more severe cases, the pain may remain for a more extended period and become chronic. Early intervention is important for the best chance of recovering sooner.
In most cases, yes! Rest may be helpful for one or two days at most, but beyond this, rest may prolong the pain. It’s important to stay active— while not exacerbating the pain— and continue doing your everyday activities. Our goal is to manage your symptoms in an effort to keep you mobile and active as usual during your recovery.
Yes, prolonged sitting may increase sciatica pain as it places pressure on the sciatic nerve. If you typically sit for long periods, try to practice good sitting posture, take breaks, and walk around regularly.
Activities that involve twisting, heavy lifting, or bending at the waist may aggravate sciatica pain and should be avoided.
Sciatica may occur for many reasons, though some risk factors include:
- Having a previous injury to your spine or lower back
- Ageing, due to wear and tear on the spine
- Osteoarthritis
- Obesity
- Having weak core muscles
- Frequent heavy lifting, bending, or working without proper back support
- Diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
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Why Ace Allied Health?
Personalised Care
We understand that every person is unique, so we tailor our treatment plans to you as an individual.
Experienced Team
We offer a holistic approach to sciatica treatment, addressing the root cause of your pain.
Experienced Team
Our team of physiotherapists and allied health professionals brings years of experience to every treatment session.
Ready to Say Goodbye to Sciatica?
Sciatica is often uncomfortable, painful, and a general nuisance! If sciatica is affecting you and stopping you from living your life the way you want to, it’s time to tell it goodbye. At Ace Allied Health, we take your sciatica seriously and aim to provide the care you need and deserve. Take back control of sciatica by making an appointment with our professional and friendly team at Ace Allied Health today!
ACE ALLIED HEALTH
Empowering Health and Performance
At Ace Allied Health, your well-being is our priority. No matter your age, stage of life, or lifestyle, we want to help you feel your best! Whether that’s with physiotherapy, exercise physiology, dietetics, or something else, we’re the team in your corner cheering you on to help you reach your goals. Take the first step towards a healthier and happier life by booking an appointment today.