How long do sciatica symptoms last?

The answer to this question can vary, but generally, acute sciatica symptoms take between one and two weeks to resolve. However, there are factors that can drastically affect how long sciatica symptoms last. 

Sciatica occurs when one of the sciatic nerves is being pinched or irritated. This condition can be a short-term issue, but it can also develop into a chronic problem. It’s also far more common than many people might think. Medical research shows that up to 40% of people are likely to develop sciatica in their lifetime. Physical therapists can help you learn about factors that can affect how long your sciatica symptoms last. These specialists can also offer effective treatment for your sciatica symptoms. 

Three factors that affect how long sciatica symptoms last

There are many common symptoms of sciatica, and they can include pain that radiates through the buttock and leg as well as numbness. How long these symptoms last can be determined by several factors, including:

1. Not resting enough — There are many normal activities that involve your lower back. A few examples are walking and bending over to pick up objects. People with sciatica should try to take a break from such activities and get some rest. This allows your body the time to address your symptoms naturally. 

2. Resting too much — Typically, you’ll only want to rest for a few days. If you rest longer, your lower back muscles could get overly tense. In turn, this tension can actually cause your symptoms to worsen. After a few days of rest, you should try to walk for a few minutes several times a day or do a few sessions of light stretching. 

3. Not going to physical therapy — Physical therapists can help treat the symptoms of sciatica. In addition, these specialists can help you address the underlying cause of this condition. This means that they can often help you get back to normal activities faster. Your therapy can even help you prevent future episodes of sciatica. 

Turn to Armor Physical Therapy for help with your sciatica

Our team at Armor Physical Therapy can help you learn how long your sciatica symptoms might last. We can also offer effective treatment for this condition. Our physical therapists will start by doing a free screening to determine how severe your symptoms are and identify underlying issues that are causing them. Next, we’ll build you a personalized therapy plan designed to reduce your symptoms and address your underlying issues. Such a plan can make use of therapy methods like: 

• Myofascial release
• Therapeutic exercises
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Manual therapy
• At-home care
• Virtual therapy

We can even start helping you with your sciatica without a doctor’s referral. 

Contact us today for more information about the sciatica treatment options we offer or to schedule an initial appointment.