Have you ever heard of something called sciatica? It’s a common problem that can cause pain in your back, buttock, and legs. Let’s talk about what sciatica is and why it happens…

What is Sciatica?

Okay, first things first—let’s understand your back. Your back is made up of a lot of different structures including bones, called “vertebra”, joints, ligaments, muscles, discs and nerves. Sometimes the nerves in our back get pinched or irritated. Sciatica happens when something presses on the sciatic nerve, which is a big nerve that runs from your lower back down to your legs. It’s like if you accidentally step on a garden hose and it gets squished—the water (or in this case, the nerve signals) can’t flow properly.

So, what can press on the sciatic nerve? Well, one common thing is something called a herniated disc. Sometimes, one of them can bulge out and press on the nerve in your back leading to inflammation and ultimately causing someone to experience pain down their leg.

What symptoms would someone with Sciatica feel?

Now, let’s talk about what sciatica feels like. Some common symptoms include:

1. Pain that starts in your lower back or buttock and travels down one leg

2. Tingling or numbness in your leg or foot

3. Weakness in your leg or foot

4. A sharp pain that feels like an electric shock, especially when you cough or sneeze

These symptoms can vary from person to person and you may experience some or all of the symptoms listed above. These symptoms can really impact your life, stopping you from doing the things you love.

What can I do about my Sciatica?

You’re probably wondering what can I do if I’m dealing with sciatica. Well, there are a number of things you can try to help reduce the pain. First, it’s important to understand what is going on and be educated about your condition. Second, conservative, non-surgical therapy has been proven to be effective. This can include soft tissue therapy to stretch tight muscles, mobilizations to improve mobility of the joints in your spine, and nerve flossing to improve the mobility of your sciatic nerve and reduce irritation. Third, exercises play a big part in your recovery but it is important that you are provided with the right exercises for your condition. When it comes to Sciatica, some exercises will provide you with relief, while some exercises can actually make your pain worse. Some of the exercises will help centralize your symptoms, which means to perform certain movements that reduce your leg pain or numbness.

Sometimes in the beginning you may need some more help to reduce your pain such as taking medication. Talking to your family doctor or a pharmacist can help guide you through this.

This all sounds like bad news, is there any good news?

The good news is that most people will get better! It may take up to 6 months for complete recovery but you should start feeling significant improvements much earlier than that.

Also, most people don’t need surgery. It is true that some people with sciatica will need surgery if they aren’t improving and there are some surgical emergencies you need to watch out for, but most people will get better with a conservative, non-surgical approach.

What should I do now?

If you’re suffering from sciatica contact Dr. Plener today to start your road to recovery!

The Spine Clinic located within Mount Sinai Hospital is a specialty clinic located in Toronto, Ontario. You will receive a comprehensive assessment and understand what is causing YOUR sciatica. Dr. Plener will discuss with you proven and individualised treatment options to help get you out of pain and back to living your life to the fullest!

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and not intended to replace medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, make sure to consult your healthcare provider.