Neck & Back
Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and travels down the leg along the sciatic nerve. Most cases improve without surgery. Physical therapy for sciatica in Commack, NY at Sunshine Physical Therapy focuses on finding where the nerve is being irritated and calming it down.
What sciatica is, in plain language
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the lower spine through the buttock and down the back of each leg. When something irritates it, the pain travels, which is why people describe sciatica as pain down my leg, shooting pain in the leg, or numbness in the leg with tingling down the leg.
Doctors may call it sciatic nerve pain, a pinched nerve in the lower back or lumbar radiculopathy. They all describe the same family of problems.
Common causes of sciatica
The cause decides the treatment, so finding it matters.
Herniated disc
Disc material presses on a nerve root as it leaves the spine.
Spinal stenosis
The canal that holds the nerves narrows, often with age, and the nerve gets crowded.
Piriformis syndrome
A tight muscle deep in the buttock irritates the nerve and causes buttock pain that can mimic a disc problem.
Spondylolisthesis
One vertebra slips forward over the one below it and narrows the space for the nerve.
Symptoms to watch for
Sciatica usually affects one side.
- One-sided leg pain
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
- Weakness in the leg
- Pain that is worse with sitting
How a physical therapist works out where it is coming from
Your evaluation looks at which positions and movements bring the leg symptoms on, and which ones ease them. That tells us if the problem is in the spine, in the buttock or somewhere else. Treatment then combines directional preference exercises, nerve glides, manual therapy and core stabilization exercise.
Most cases improve over weeks, not days, and the plan changes as your symptoms change. General back pain without leg symptoms is covered on back pain. If your leg symptoms start in the hip, see hip pain. Numbness in both feet that does not come from your spine is a different problem; ask us if you are unsure.
Red flags: get medical care first
- Foot drop, or leg weakness that is getting worse
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness in the groin or inner thighs
Not sure whether you need a referral? Call us and we will tell you what your plan requires before you book.
Next step
Sciatica care in Commack
Sunshine Physical Therapy is locally owned and operated at 297 Commack Rd in Commack, NY. We are accepting new patients and offer telehealth appointments.
We see patients in Commack, New York.