Sciatica is a common problem that affects nearly 40% of adults. Sciatica occurs when your sciatic nerve, a nerve that runs from your low back down your buttocks and into your leg(s), becomes compressed by a bone spur, a herniated disc, or spinal stenosis. As the condition progresses, the pain increases, affecting your range of motion and overall, your quality of life.
Symptoms of sciatica include the following:
- Low back pain
- Pain in the buttocks or leg that is worse when sitting
- Numbness and/or tingling in affected leg
In most cases, sciatica only affects one side of the body.
Our providers at Core Rehab specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. In order to diagnose your sciatica, a physical exam will need to be performed. This will include questions about your symptoms, testing muscle strength and possibly having you perform a series of easy in-office exercises. If these steps don't provide enough insight into your condition, your provider may order diagnostic imaging tests like an x-ray, CT scan or MRI. These procedures take detailed photographs of the hard and soft tissues and can pinpoint bone spurs and herniated discs.
Although painful, most cases respond well to conservative treatment. Treatment of sciatica depends on the severity and the cause of your symptoms. We always recommend the most conservative treatment to start but offer additional options if conservative options are not effective. Some treatment options include:
- Therapeutic exercises and stretches
- Manual therapy
- Massage therapy
- Exercise and postural modifications
- Spinal traction
- Vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D)
- Infrared therapy
- Over-the-counter pain medications
- Epidural injections
- Nerve blocks
- Radiofrequency ablations
If you suspect you have sciatica, you should be seen by a medical professional in order to be diagnosed and start treatment. We are happy to schedule you an appointment with one of our providers. You can call our clinic at 773-229-9600 or set up an appointment by clicking Book Online.