Why Does My Leg Hurt? Signs You May Have Sciatica
Leg pain that moves from the lower back or even the buttocks can be so discomforting. The pain ranges from a simple headache to fractal-like burning throbbing, sharp shooting, electric, or radiating pain from the lower back to the thighs making movement painful and sitting almost unbearable. Such type of pain is most commonly related to a disorder known as sciatica. Still, why a leg pain and how would you be sure that it has something to do with sciatica? So, in this article, I’ve decided to discuss: The signs of sciatica, what might cause such pains, and how physiotherapy surrey can help.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain along the sciatic nerve, which starts in your lower back and runs through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the human body and any inflammation of the nerve or compression leads to tremendous hip and lower back leg pain.
As a matter of fact, sciatica is not a disease but a symptom that is the result of a problem that compresses the sciatic nerve. The main causes of sciatica include slipped disc, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or piriformis syndrome. For ones to know the right treatment they need to know the cause of the pain.
Common Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatica presents itself in various ways, and symptoms can differ from person to person. However, there are a few hallmark signs to watch out for:
- Sharp or Shooting Pain: Sciatica often causes a sharp or shooting pain that starts in the lower back or buttocks and radiates down one leg. This pain may worsen when you sit, stand, or make sudden movements.
- Numbness and Tingling: Along with pain, sciatica can cause sensations of numbness, tingling, or a “pins and needles” feeling in the leg, particularly on the affected side.
- Weakness in the Leg: In some cases, sciatica can cause weakness in the muscles of the leg or foot. This may make it difficult to move or even stand for extended periods.
- Pain That Worsens with Movement: Activities that involve bending, twisting, or prolonged sitting can aggravate sciatica. You may notice that the pain becomes more intense after certain movements or when getting up from a seated position.
- Chronic Pain: In severe cases, sciatica can lead to chronic pain, which persists for weeks or even months. Chronic sciatica can significantly impact daily activities and quality of life.
Causes of Sciatica
Sciatica is not a standalone condition but rather a symptom of another underlying problem. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Herniated or Bulging Discs: One of the most frequent causes of sciatica is a herniated disc. The discs in your spine act as cushions between vertebrae. When one of these discs slips out of place or ruptures, it can press on the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the lower back and legs.
- Spinal Stenosis: This condition occurs when the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. When spinal stenosis affects the lower back, it can lead to sciatica.
- Spondylolisthesis: This is a condition in which one vertebra slips over another, potentially pinching the sciatic nerve. It can lead to chronic pain and discomfort in the back and legs.
- Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle, located in the buttocks, can sometimes irritate the sciatic nerve if it spasms or becomes tight. This condition is known as piriformis syndrome and is another cause of sciatica.
- Pregnancy: The added weight and postural changes during pregnancy can sometimes lead to sciatica. The growing uterus can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing leg pain in expectant mothers.
- Age-Related Changes: As you age, the discs in your spine can begin to deteriorate, and the likelihood of developing conditions like spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease increases. These age-related changes are common causes of sciatica in older adults.
When to Seek Help for Sciatica
When you have discomforts in your legs, it is very important in going to the severity of the symptoms and the time that it lasts. The condition that is mild can be treated using home remedies or by taking a break from an activity that caused the pain, but severe or frequent pains should be treated by a professional. If you experience any of the following, seek help from a healthcare provider:
- Chronic pain, is pain that extends for several days, a week, a month or even progresses for years.
- Leg or foot paralysis or decreased sensation that compromises motor function
- Trouble controlling their bowel or bladder movements that might be a sign of a more critical condition, for example, Cauda Equina Syndrome.
- Severe pain that mandate the disablement of the customer from his/her regular endeavours.
How Physiotherapy Can Help Sciatica Pain
Thus, clients suffering from sciatica have an opportunity to manage the condition and decrease pain using physiotherapy. A physiotherapist has skills in musculoskeletal disorders and can determine the origin of your sciatica before designing your treatment plan. Here are some of the ways physiotherapy can help:
- Pain Management: Most of the physiotherapists employ pain management therapy that includes the use of heat and cold treatments, electrical stimulation, and other forms of therapy. Some of these treatments may help to decrease inflammation, to relax musculature of the affected region and increase blood flow.
- Strengthening Exercises: The result of sciatica is often lower back, hip, and leg paralysis. From the study, physiotherapists are able to recommend exercises that strengthen group of muscles in order to enhance stability. This can help decrease the physical pressure on your sciatic nerve and can assist in its prevention down the line.
- Posture Correction: Lack of that balance may lead to a poor posture and that in turn will cause sciatica. A physiotherapist can then be able to advise you on the likely changes that may help reduce pressure on your spine and sciatic nerve with regard to your posture. They also are equally capable to offer a word of advise on sitting properly, standing properly , how to lift an object properly among others.
- Stretching and Flexibility: One has tight muscles in their back and legs that tends to worsen the sciatica pain. Some flexibility exercises that physiotherapist can show you include a few stretches so that you can reduce tensions experienced in the muscles surrounding the affected sciatic nerve.
- Manual Therapy: Mobilisations for example, manipulations of the spine may be employed in order to enhance the proper positioning of the spine and decrease nerve impingement. These treatments are usually effective for such diseases as herniated disc or spinal stenosis.
Finding Physiotherapy in Surrey
Every person who needs help with sciatica can often try to find a good physiotherapy clinic in Surrey and alleviate the pain symptoms. The physiotherapist Surrey is knowledgeable in the assessment of physical disorders such as sciatica and can offer you a preferred treatment utilizing physiotherapy service delivery that meets your unique requirements.
Sciatica services at Physiotherapy Surrey include an assessment to determine the extent of the problem and some useful pain management approaches plus some recommended exercises. When you consult a physiotherapist, you can be able to be provided with a holistic approach on how you can be treated as well as how to avoid such problems in future.
A number of Physiotherapy Clinics in Surrey present several approaches for treating sciatica which may include; manual therapy, acupuncture and exercise among others. Another important work of a physiotherapy clinic in Surrey is to inform patients about their state, explain the causes of pain, and teach them how to alter the treatment process in their homes.
