Stop Sciatica Pain & Get Back To Living Your Life!

Do you often wake up in the morning with annoying back pain? Have you felt aches in your back, thighs, and even buttocks region? Can you not do certain things because you’re worried you’ll “throw out your back” or hurt yourself?

The American Physical Therapy Association claims that out of every reported pain in the USA, back pain is the most common. When the study was conducted, one out of every four Americans had dealt with back pain in the three months prior.

Back pain is specific to the upper, middle, or lower part of your back. Sciatica and back pain often get confused with each other. Sciatica, or “lumbar radiculopathy,” is a condition in which pain radiates down the buttock, thighs, and legs. It’s also common to experience a radiating numbness, burning or tingling sensation on certain parts of the leg. This is called radiculopathy, and it’s associated with herniated discs and entrapped nerves.

Don’t rely on prescription medications to give you relief from back and sciatica pain. Listen to your body; it’s trying to alert you to the deeper root of the problem! Physical therapy is an excellent route to go down if you’re looking for long-lasting relief from sciatica and back pain. Deciding to see a physical therapist can also eliminate the need to take harmful painkillers or have an invasive (and expensive!) surgery. Be sure to visit Advantage Orthopedic Physical Therapy of Lexington to learn more about treatment options today.

Do you have sciatica pain or back pain?

Is it Sciatica?

Sciatica pain is extremely uncomfortable, but it is very easy to diagnose! People suffering from sciatica experience pain along their sciatic nerve. Coincidentally, this is the largest nerve in your body, so if you’re feeling pressure on it when you move, it’s best to get it checked out.

Your sciatic nerve starts at your lower back, and then splits at the base of your spine. From there, it goes even further, down your buttocks, your legs, and finally to the bottom of each foot. If this nerve becomes irritated or compressed, you’ll feel burning sensations along your lower back, buttocks, legs, and/or feet.

Or Back Pain?

The term “back pain” is widely used and can be the result of a multitude of different conditions. You might experience back pain because of an injury, auto accident, or poor posture. Your Lexington, KY physical therapist will set up a treatment plan for you with exercises and stretches. These will vary depending on where your pain is located, how your back pain came about, as well as your medical history.

Back pain can also be described as “acute,” meaning it lasts for a short while, or “chronic,” meaning it is long-term and probably has been an issue for you for at least three months.

What causes back pain and sciatica to occur?

Normally, back pain develops as a result of an injury. These injuries can be due to repetitive straining motions, like bending over to pick up a small child or animal multiple times a day, or even more serious trauma, such as a car accident. Herniated discs can also bring about extreme pain, as well as radiculopathy symptoms to the legs, thighs, and feet.

Degenerative disc disease is a common condition that many people develop as they age over time. This results in back pain as well. People struggling with this disease typically report experiencing dull, aching pains in the lower back region, and they also tend to have problems standing or walking for long periods of time. A Lexington, KY physical therapist will be able to assess your pain and make a proper diagnosis.

Sciatica usually develops in people who are between the ages of 30 and 50. Arthritis, bone spurs, and other injuries that can directly impact the sciatic nerve are all conditions that can cause sciatica to develop. Often, we find that as people age, they lose flexibility in their pelvis and hips, which causes the muscles in the hips and gluteal area to become too tight. As a result, the structure and mechanics of the spine are altered and the sciatic nerve is compressed as it travels through these tissues.

Kick back pain once and for all

Back pain will come and go for most people. However, the underlying issues of poor range of motion in your joints, core weakness, and poor muscle coordination are what need to be addressed. If these conditions aren’t taken care of early on, you could be setting yourself up for a future injury to your back, which might even be worse than the pain you’re dealing with now. It’s a good idea to consult with a Lexington, KY physical therapist before brushing your issues off in the hopes that they’ll go away on their own.

The good news is that back pain and sciatica are 100% treatable with physical therapy. An Advantage Orthopedic PT physical therapist will create a special treatment plan for you, and teach you the best exercises and stretches you can do at home, depending upon your diagnosis.

In the beginning of your treatment, your physical therapist will focus on quick pain relief options for you. As your pain decreases, your physical therapist will begin focusing on strengthening your core muscles with certain therapeutic stretches and exercises. The main objective is to increase your range of motion, strength, and stamina to prevent you receiving another injury to your spine. Your physical therapist will also teach you exactly how to take care of your spine in general to avoid future problems.

If you’re dealing with sciatica pain, specific leg stretches can also be included in your treatment plan to loosen the sciatic nerve. This will replenish the nerve’s health, and decrease the amount of pain symptoms you experience daily.

So what are you waiting for? You don’t have to live with uncomfortable back pain. If you’re experiencing symptoms of sciatica, or struggle with back pain in general, Contact Us Today at Lexington, KY Center to make an appointment with one of our licensed therapists at Advantage Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Our goal is to help you get back to doing the things you love, pain-free.