The sciatic nerve is the largest in the nervous system. Its circumference is about the size of your pinky finger, and it’s responsible for connecting the spinal cord to the leg and foot muscles. Any pressure on the sciatic nerve will cause a radiating pain, which is called sciatica, to appear throughout these regions of the lower body.

Most don’t realize, but sciatica itself is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and there are many conditions that can cause sciatic-like pain.  The most common causes are lower back or hip muscle strain, herniated discs in the lumbar spine, and pregnancy.

If you are having sciatica, most symptoms are typically in the lower back or hip region with radiating pain that travels down to the outside of the leg. Below is a list of common symptoms associated with sciatic-type pain:

• Sharp low back pain.

• Pain that originates in the low back or hip, but then radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve and travels down the back of the leg.

• Constant or shooting pain in one side of the buttock or leg.

• Sciatica usually only occurs on one side of the body and rarely affects both sides simultaneously.

• Weakness or numbness when moving the leg, which may cause difficulty walking.

Tips to Relieve Sciatic Pain

Most cases of sciatic pain are mild and can resolve themselves with time and rest. However, not everyone can take the time out of their busy lives to wait for the pain to go away. Here are a few more active measures you can take to relieve your sciatic pain and prevent it from resurfacing.

·       Move More: We all know that prolonged sitting is unhealthy, but did you know that sitting for too long can also be a risk factor for sciatica? There are various ways you can start building active habits to avoid sitting for long periods of time.

·       Practice proper seated posture and take breaks often throughout the day.

·       Drink water. Your body needs hydration to properly heal and often dehydration can cause muscle soreness and strain to be worse.

·       Foam rolling your gluts (buttock), quads, and IT Band can help relieve pain by removing tension and increasing blood flow which can help with healing.

Without proper diagnosis or treatment, your sciatic pain may worsen or become chronic. Dr. Victoria aims to diagnose and treat your sciatic pain at the source, without needles or surgery. Dr. Victoria will prescribe a customized treatment plan and active rehab exercises, allowing you to maintain your active lifestyle and continue any athletic activities. 

Schedule an appointment today

Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you experience any numbness, tingling or reproduction of your symptoms, please contact your doctor.