I have leg pain — is it Sciatica? How do I know if my leg pain is Sciatica? How do I get rid of my Sciatica? Sciatica is a term commonly thrown around
to describe leg pain, which can include the buttock(s), thigh(s), or leg(s), and even
into the foot. However, Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis,
as it only describes symptoms, not the source or cause of why the symptoms exist in the
first place. The term sciatica derives from the sciatic
nerve, which is a collection of individual nerve roots stemming from the spinal cord. The nerve roots bundle together near the back
and buttock to assemble the largest nerve of the leg — the sciatic nerve — which then
branches into other nerves of the lower leg once it passes the knee. Though the term sciatica is used to loosely
describe leg pain and symptoms, it’s prevalence is quite high. However, not all leg pain is irritation of
the sciatic nerve! Sciatica is rarely associated with a specific
event causing injury, rather it’s described as occurring for no apparent reason. However, certain conditions requiring immediate
medical attention can mimic sciatica symptoms. If you’re experiencing sciatica-like symptoms
with progressive neurological symptoms (i.e. leg weakness, numbness, drop foot, bladder
dysfunction, or bowel dysfunction occurring about the same time) call the ER now. Spinal tumors and infections can also mimic
sciatica. The vast majority of people who experience
sciatica will experience resolution naturally by giving it time — from weeks to months
— and staying mobile. More serious cases of sciatica can take months
to years. Very few cases of sciatica require surgery. If the symptoms are severe to the point where
it’s drastically affecting your daily functions, medical intervention (i.e. steroid injections
or surgery) may be your best next step. While most cases of sciatica can be treated
conservatively with great results, identifying the source of the problem is absolutely imperative. Sciatica-like symptoms typically stem from
the spine. If your leg symptoms change with how you use
your body, it’s likely it’s from a spinal source and can resolve with the correct movement
strategy. Most muscle and joint problems, like sciatica,
will resolve on their own with time and movement. Here are a few helpful strategies to get you
there sooner, without unnecessarily setting yourself back. Motion is like lotion for your body. Unless it’s extremely painful to move, staying
active is the best advice to give someone who’s suffering from sciatica that changes
with certain movements, postures, or positions. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to avoid movements
and positions that make you feel worse or stiffer and continue to move in a way that
makes you feel and move better. For example, if sitting makes you feel worse
and stiffer, but standing or walking makes you feel better and more mobile, avoid sitting
and stand or walk more. If you have pain/stiffness in your back with
associated sciatica, your symptoms get worse when you sit and better when you’re up and
moving around, it’s likely you will benefit from a simple exercise called the press-up. What you do is lay down on your front, placing
your palms down beside your ears. Next, press your upper body up while letting
the hips sag toward the ground. If you have pain at a certain point of the
movement, “kiss” the pain then return to start. Perform this for 10 repetitions every three
hours for the next two days to determine if it’s mitigating your sciatica symptoms. The majority of individuals who respond to
a repetitive extension movement strategy can resolve their problem on their own. However, this exercise is far from a “one-size-fits-all”
solution. As a result, if you suspect the exercise is
making you feel more pain and stiffness, it’s best to stop performing it and seek professional
assistance. Yes, posture — every mother’s favorite
critique of their children. No matter how far your roll your eyes in the
back of your head, Mom has a point — posture matters. Though there’s no scientific evidence of
an ideal posture, we can easily test the effects of posture on ourselves. To learn if posture matters for you, try placing
a rolled up towel in the small of your back whenever you’re sitting. The towel helps you to maintain an upright
posture without having to ask too much of your postural muscles. Test the towel strategy for a few days to
determine if makes your sciatica symptoms more tolerable throughout the day. Lastly, if you are struggling with sciatica
or sciatica-like symptoms, contact a McKenzie Method credentialed chiropractor or physical
therapist to help guide toward a solution.