Has sciatica got you down lately? If so, you are part of a small percentage of individuals (2.2%) worldwide that has this condition. In case you are unfamiliar with the term, sciatica is a type of pain that affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back to down the back of each leg. Sciatic pain can be either mild or intense, cramp-like or shooting. Either way, it is a major downer. According to WebMD, other symptoms of sciatica include…
- Pain in the low back
- Hip Pain
- “A constant pain on one side of the rear”
- Pain in the buttocks
- “Burning or tingling down the leg”
Sciatica can seriously dampen a person’s quality of life. Those having severe cases of this condition are often unable to perform daily tasks with ease, or are forced to cut out certain actions altogether.
The causes of sciatica are varied. Rare cases are caused by tumors, some by lumbar stenonsis, and the majority by a herniated disc with nerve root compression, reported the US National Library of Medicine’s article Diagnosis and Treatment of Sciatica. This article stated that sciatica primarily affects individuals who…
- Are between 45 and 64 years old
- Smoke cigarettes
- Are under mental stress
- Frequently lift heavy loads
- Drive a vehicle regularly
Treatment options for sciatica can include surgery, medication for pain management, steroid injections, and physiotherapy.
How Physiotherapy Reduces Sciatic Pain
So many medical treatments appear to improve conditions that cause physical pain. However, it’s common for these treatments to address only the symptoms of a problem and not the cause. Physiotherapy is a treatment that doesn’t merely mask the symptoms of a condition like sciatica. Instead, it corrects the root of the problem. A physiotherapist will use healing modalities such as exercise, ultrasound, massage, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, stretching, and strength training to help a patient find relief from sciatic pain. This type of therapy has helped many people suffering with this condition; it might help you, too. Give yourself a fighting chance to be free from sciatica by contacting a physiotherapist.