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
- Rotation of the pelvis or lower crossed syndrome
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!
