Do you sometimes feel a sharp, shooting pain travel down the back of your leg? Or sometimes a dull, ache or tingling and numbness? These symptoms might be down to a condition known as Sciatica. This blog post will help you understand what sciatica is and some ways to help this. 

Commonly people attribute any pain in the leg to being Sciatica but this is only when it affects one of the specific nerves that runs directly down the back of your leg called the Sciatic nerve.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Symptoms are radiating pain that travels from the low back, through the buttock, and down the back of the leg. This is normally down one leg rather than two. Sometimes Sciatica can give other symptoms other than just leg pain, this can include:

●    Numbness of the buttock, leg, or foot

●    Tingling that radiates down the leg

●    A burning sensation in the low back, buttock, or leg

●    Lower body weakness

So how can we help your pain? 

With Sciatica we do a number of tests in the clinic to rule in and out certain conditions and make the best plan of management moving forwards to help. 

Methods we use in the clinic to help: 

• Soft tissue massage 
• Active release techniques 
• Chiropractic adjustments 
• Instrument assisted soft tissue massage 
• Laser therapy  
• Home rehabiliation exercises 

Most cases of Sciatica are best managed with conservative care but is also important to keep active and moving while avoiding bed rest where possible. This will help with your recovery. 

A Useful Exercise

Important exercises to do for Sciatica are nerve gliding exercises. ​​The goal is to use these techniques to increase blood circulation, reduce the swelling that is around the nerve and get the nerve back to its natural movement. This will decrease symptoms once these areas are restored. Below is a link to an exercise for the Sciatic nerve. Start with 10 repetitions, gradually increase the stretch on the neck and the leg, don’t force the motion, it will gradually increase with each repetition. If this exercise increases your symptoms, then stop the exercise.

If you suffer from Sciatica and would like an examination and treatment to help relieve your symptoms then contact the clinic today on 0578678904, direct message us on Facebook or book now.

Yours in Health

The Lawlor Clinic: Spine & Sport, Portlaoise, Laois