Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, from the low back through the buttock and down one leg. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and physical therapy works by finding what is irritating the nerve, most often a disc or joint in the low back. Heights Physical Therapy treats sciatic nerve pain for people in Gunnison, Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley.
Why pain down your leg can start in your back
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It leaves the low back, passes through the buttock and runs down the back of the leg. When it is squeezed or irritated you can feel shooting pain in the leg, buttock pain, numbness in the leg or tingling down the leg, even though the problem sits in the spine.
Plain back pain stays in the back. When pain, numbness or tingling follows a specific path into the leg, it is often called lumbar radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve in the lower back.
Signs your leg pain may be sciatica
Sciatica is usually one-sided. Typical symptoms include:
- Pain from the buttock down the back of one leg, sometimes into the foot
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
- Weakness in the leg
- Pain that gets worse with sitting, like on a long drive to Denver or Grand Junction
What commonly irritates the nerve
Herniated disc or spinal stenosis
A bulging disc or narrowing around the spinal nerves can crowd a nerve root and send pain down one leg. Discs and stenosis are covered in more detail on back pain.
Piriformis syndrome
A tight muscle deep in the buttock, often from long hours sitting or repetitive riding and running, can press on the nerve. We check your hips too.
Spondylolisthesis
When one spinal bone slips forward on the next, nerves can be crowded. Strength and control of the muscles that stabilize the spine matter here.
How a physical therapist works out where it is coming from
We examine how your spine, hips and legs move, and test strength, sensation and reflexes. Moving your back in one direction may ease the leg pain and another direction may bring it on. That response tells us where to start.
Care usually combines directional preference exercises, neural mobilization (gentle nerve glides), manual therapy and core stabilization exercise, with a home program so you can keep working on it between visits.
Recovery, and what to expect
Every back is different, so we do not promise a timeline.
Exercise and activity changes can help
For many people with sciatica, the right exercises and activity changes may reduce leg symptoms. If you need further care, we work with your doctor.
Getting it checked
If leg pain, numbness or weakness is not settling, an exam can show what is irritating the nerve and which movements to change.
Staying active
We show you how to keep walking, working and training without feeding the irritation.
Get urgent care if you notice
- Foot drop or leg weakness that is getting worse
- Loss of control of your bladder or bowels
- Numbness in your groin or inner thighs
Call us and we will tell you what applies to your insurance, and whether you need anything from your doctor, before your first visit.
Sciatica questions we hear
Is sciatica the same as back pain?
No. Back pain stays in the back. Sciatica travels into the buttock and leg, though many people have some of both. See back pain.
Can numbness in both feet be sciatica?
Sciatica usually affects one leg. Numbness in both feet is more likely from peripheral neuropathy or another cause, so check with your doctor.
Pain down your leg? Start with an exam
Call Heights Physical Therapy and we will work out what is irritating the nerve and build a plan around it. We see people from Gunnison, Crested Butte and across the Gunnison Valley.
We see patients in Gunnison, Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley, Colorado.