Sciatica
What is it?
Sciatica pain is caused by an irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower back
Symptoms include:
Pain in one side of your buttock or leg
Pain may be sharp, shooting or burning
You may experience numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in the affected leg or foot
Difficulty walking, standing or sitting
Who is at risk:
Women, specifically during pregnancy
Any history of injury to your low back or disc
Being overweight
Weak core
History of diabetes, osteoarthritis or scoliosis
Aging: in general our risk of sciatica increases as we age due to normal wearing away of the disc between our spine (degenerative disk disease) and narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis)
Why is sciatica so common in pregnancy?
Increased weight alone is not the main reason why pregnant women get sciatica!
Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy cause loosening of ligaments. Ligaments hold the vertebrae together and keep the spine stable. Increased laxity may increase stress on disks increasing the risk of nerves being pinched and the development of sciatica.
The baby’s weight and position can also add pressure to the nerves and disk.
A weakened core puts more demand on our hips and spine, increasing the risk for over use injuries, muscle tightness and nerve compression.
How can PT help:
1. Massage to tight and shortened low back, glute and hamstring muscles to decrease nerve compression
2. Individualized core, pelvic floor, and posterior strengthening to decrease the demand on the piriformis muscle
3. Manual hip mobility
4. Trigger point release via dry needling
To learn more about some of our favorite stretches for sciatica check out this video post.
Low back and sciatica pain are one of the leading causes for missed work days in our country. It also greatly contributes to decrease physical exercise and general mobility. If you or someone you know is suffering from low back or sciatic pain, come see one of our specialist!
