Rock Therapy

What is sciatica?

If you have pain that runs from the lower back, into the glutes and down the leg, it can be called sciatica. It follows this pathway and gets its name because of being caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. Normally this will worsen with sitting for long periods at work or in the car, and with bending over. It can come on suddenly, or just slowly creep in over time making it difficult to know that the actual cause is.

What is causing my sciatica?

Assessment in the early stages is key. Disc bulges or degeneration can create irritation where the nerve exits the spine, causing the irritation. Overuse injuries or sustained bad posture can also contribute. There are also some hamstring tendon injuries that create similar symptoms as well! Often sciatica will resolve itself over time, however getting it one time usually means there’s something going on with the back or hips. If you are also experiencing any numbness or weakness through the legs, it’s especially important to see a health professional. This normally indicates a more serious involvement of the disc and may require specialist imaging before proceeding.

How do I fix my sciatica?

You’re in the right place! Your Milton Chiropractor, Myotherapist and Remedial Massage are here to help. Most cases of sciatica can be resolved with exercise and treatment. Chiropractic, Myotherapy and Massage have all been shown to improve pain related symptoms! A functional assessment and exercise program will be key to ensuring these types of issues don’t arise again. Normally compression of the nerve arises due to a weakness somewhere in the lower back or hips.

True sciatica refers to a compression or irritation of the nerve where it exits the spine. This is normally cause by a disc bulge or herniation, as well as wear and tear of the spine. Differentiating between this and ‘sciatic-like’ symptoms is key, as the treatments will be very different. Conditions that present similarly to sciatica include piriformis syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction and even trigger point referral pain from muscles.

What’s the best treatment?

Everybody is different, so we treat every sciatica case in the same way. Massage techniques, dry needling, chiropractic manipulation – all of these have been shown to help reduce symptoms. We love exercise here at Rock Therapy! So expect to have a tailored program made up just for you. This will include stretching, strengthening and changes to current routines if needed.

We also focus on reducing inflammation in the body as this plays a big role in healing. Nutritional and diet changes and ways to improve stress and sleep are important. Working on all the individual pieces makes sure that we don’t miss anything, and maximise your chances of recovery. And not just to recover, but to discover strength you maybe never had!

Sciatica Treatment Brisbane

We are located just across the road from Suncorp Stadium! If you are experiencing anything like the symptoms above, be sure to book in with Matt our Myotherapist, or Dr. Jack our Chiropractor. They can not only help with the injuries you have currently, but also guide you towards strengthening to make sure it doesn’t happen again! We see sciatica in clinic very regularly so you’ll be in good hands 🙂

So click here to make a booking today, our feel free to contact us by filling out the contact form below 🙂