Have you been struggling with long-term back pain and can’t find the cause? If you also experience numbness in your legs, you might be dealing with sciatica. This article by OneEssential physical therapists will guide you through how to check for sciatica and recommend treatment options if you do indeed have it.
How to Check for Sciatica
If you suspect you have sciatica, you can perform the Straight Leg Raise Test to assess the issue. To do this test, lie flat on your back and slowly raise one leg while keeping your knee straight and your hips against the floor. If you start to feel pain or an increase in numbness after lifting your leg about 30 degrees, it could indicate sciatica. For accurate testing, we recommend consulting OneEssential to let our physical therapists perform a more precise diagnosis and prevent secondary injury caused by improper testing.
Medical Instrument Check
In most cases, a physical therapist’s assessment and tests can provide a preliminary conclusion regarding sciatica. Only a small portion of patients require MRI or X-ray to further evaluate skeletal issues, tumors, soft tissue, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis.
Sciatica Treatment Options
Here are some common treatment options for sciatica:
Physical Therapy for Sciatica
Physical therapy is a primary approach for treating sciatica. OneEssential physical therapists will customize a treatment plan based on the severity of each patient’s condition. The goal is to reduce nerve compression, improve blood circulation, and strengthen the back and leg muscles through the following methods:
- Manual Therapy: Physical therapists use hands-on techniques to loosen joints and nerves, aligning them to alleviate nerve pressure.
- Massage and Heat Therapy: Therapists apply targeted pressure to relieve tension in muscles and soft tissues, promoting circulation and reducing nerve compression, effectively relieving sciatica pain. Heat therapy is also used to ease muscle tightness.
- Dry Needling: Dry needling, a modern form of acupuncture, is effective for relieving sciatica. Fine needles are inserted into muscles and tendons to stimulate healing and alleviate pain.
- Stretching Exercises: A series of exercises are designed to strengthen specific muscles and improve resistance to pressure. These exercises also help relax tight muscles and relieve nerve pressure.
- Shockwave Therapy: Electroacoustic shockwave technology generates stable, high-energy shockwaves that penetrate muscle and tendon layers, activating cell repair functions, which helps quickly relieve pain and promote healing.
Medication
Medications are a supplementary aid to physical therapy. Doctors often prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to relieve pain and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Surgical Treatment for Sciatica
When sciatica does not improve after non-surgical treatments, surgery may be considered as a last resort. The purpose of surgery is typically to address severe issues like herniated discs or spinal stenosis. Common surgical options include:
- Discectomy: A minimally invasive surgery that removes the part of the herniated disc pressing on the nerve, alleviating pain.
- Laminectomy: If sciatica is caused by spinal stenosis, this surgery enlarges the spinal canal to reduce pressure on the nerves.
OneEssential Sciatica Treatment Success Story:
A 40-year-old woman experienced sudden severe pain in her lower back while picking up stationery. The following day, she developed numbness in her right leg. For several months, she could not sit for more than 30 minutes. After an assessment, it was found that pressure on her L4 vertebra worsened the numbness in her right foot, and her right glute was tighter than the left. Treatment involved manual therapy and acupuncture to relax muscles and joints, followed by core stability exercises and targeted muscle nerve stretching. After several treatments, her symptoms improved significantly, and she was able to resume normal activities.
If you are facing similar issues, consider booking a 1-on-1 consultation with OneEssential. Our professional physical therapists will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs and help you recover from sciatica as quickly as possible.