Why you need physical therapy for sciatica pain

Have you ever had pain that starts in your lower back and spreads into one of your legs? Did this pain come with any numbness or tingling sensation? If the answer is yes, you’re probably experiencing the symptoms of sciatica.

The sciatic nerve is a long nerve that runs from your lower back into each of your legs. Irritation to this nerve can put pressure on it that causes pain, numbness and tingling. A mild sciatica flare-up can occur if you have been sitting at a desk all day without taking breaks to move or stretch. Usually, mild sciatica goes away after a little time or some gentle stretching and moving. However, some cases of sciatica are too intense to treat on your own. In these circumstances, you may need physical therapy for treatment.

When to treat sciatica with physical therapy

When you should visit a physical therapist for treatment is ultimately up to you, but if you need some assistance deciding on whether you need help, here is when you may want to consider seeking treatment:

• Your pain rapidly grows more intense — An intense, sudden, shooting pain, weakness or numbness that runs from your lower back into your leg can limit your mobility or cause loss of bladder and bowel control. Occasional mild sciatic nerve pain might not be much of a concern, but intense sciatic nerve pain should be examined and treated by a professional.
• You have an injury — If you went through a physically traumatic incident, such as a car wreck, a fall or a sports injury, and you have sciatica symptoms, you should visit a health care professional for treatment. Your injury may have resulted in something that affects your sciatic nerve.
• The pain never goes away despite your best efforts — Many cases of mild sciatica can be remedied with some gentle stretching, light exercising, icing or over-the-counter pain medication. However, if none of these methods are helping after a few days or a week, you should go visit a physical therapist for treatment.

Visit Armor Physical Therapy for sciatica treatment

Is your constant back and leg pain keeping you from enjoying your life? Our team at Armor Physical Therapy can help. We can provide personalized treatment to help you recover from sciatica pain and prevent future sciatica symptoms from developing. Contact our team today for more information about physical therapy for sciatica or to schedule an initial appointment.