Sciatic pain is often pain down the leg, however there are many causes. Many people think sciatica is a condition, however it is only a symptom, such as shoulder pain. However there are many different causes of shoulder pain, just like with sciatica.

Symptoms of Sciatica

• Pain radiating down the leg
  • Note true sciatica goes past the knee- other causes of scaitica do not!!
• Stiffness in the lower back, especially in the morning and when bending over
• Pain or stiffness especially when getting up from sitting
• Pain in the glutes or to hamstrings

Common causes of Sciatica

• Disc herniation or varying degrees of derangement- bulges, etc
• Stenosis
• Trigger point referral
• Sacroiliac or SI joint
• Facet joint referral
• Sciatic nerve entrapment
  • Piriformis symdrome
  • Sciatic nerve entrapment at hamstrings
  • Sciatic nerve entrapment at the calf muscles

Hopefully now you understand that determining the cause of your sciatic pain or symptom is the most important way to develop a plan to reduce your pain.

If you are wondering what a nerve entrapment is you arent the only one. Nerve entrapments are very common causes of pain, especially sciatic pain. Nerve entrapments occur when scar tissue or fibrosis develops between a nerve at muscle, tendons, ligaments. This causes the nerve to not be able to stretch and move which will irritate the nerve and cause pain (sciatica)

Biomechanical causes of Sciatica

• Muscle imbalance in the lumbar (low back) spine and the pelvis
  • Rotation of the pelvis or lower crossed syndrome
    • Tight hip flexors and hamstrings
    • Weak glute and core muscles
  • Lack of thoracic (middle back) mobility
  • Lack of hip mobility (especially of an athlete that rotates)
  • Lack of ankle mobility or excessive pronation of the ankle
  • Weak core strength and stability

Treatments for Sciatica

• Reduction of stressors which can exacerbate sciatic pain
  • Sitting for excessive amounts of time- car, travel, work
  • Poor sleeping ergonomics or poor mattress
• Exercises
  • We will post a video with common sciatic exercsies however, these are general and may not apply to your specific cause
• Active Release Technique for sciatic nerve entrapment and break up scar tissue
• Adjustments and manipulations will help your lumbar spine move better
• Cryotherapy helps reduce inflammation to the low back or sciatic nerve
• GameReady also will help reduce inflammation and swelling in the lower back and hips

Things NOT to do if you have Sciatic Pain

• Stretch your hamstrings!
  • Your body might be tightening your hamstrings to protect you or try to create some core strength or stability
• Avoid bending forward, especially in the first 30-60 minutes of waking up
  • If you sciatic pain is caused from a disc herniation, bending forward in the morning will irritate your disc
• Lacrosse ball or mashing your back or hamstrings with a foam roller can make your sciatic nerve more irritated
• Other stretches to avoid
  • Sitting or standing toe touch
  • Prayer stretch
  • Single or double leg knee to chest stretch
  • All these exercises are creating flexion your spine, which can make an acute episode of sciatic pain worse!

 

Please consult a Professional if you are experencing any of the above. There are also serious causes of sciatic pain.  Do not self diagnose or treat before receiving a consult!