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Understanding Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Dr.Praveen Mikkili Paul, PT (City Head, Bengaluru)
The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body. Sciatica is a phrase used to describe a vast distribution of symptoms or spreading pain brought on by compression, irritation, or pinching.
The pain associated with sciatica often follows the path of the “sciatic nerve,” which runs from the lower back through the buttocks to the back of the thigh and down the back of the leg, including the calf muscle. Tingling and numbness in the leg are frequently present as well. In severe situations, the leg muscles may weaken or become paralyzed.
A patient with sciatica reports morning low back pain that gradually moves to the side of the body as the day progresses.
A patient with sciatica complains of pain that begins in the morning in the low back area and gradually travels over the day to the side of the back of the legs. The pain can range from light to scorching or electric shock-like, radiating to the buttocks, knee level, and the lateral aspect of the legs. In rare instances, it may even radiate to the foot. The patient begins to experience numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the locations where the nerves are distributed if the symptoms last a few more days.

Sciatica’s root causes
The most common cause of sciatica is nerve root compression as it exits the spine. Sciatica has these reasons.
- Poor posture is one of the main causes of injuries among software professionals since it causes the back muscles and intra-vertebral ligaments to weaken and elongate, which can rip the ligaments or cause them to become slack.
- Poor ergonomics when lifting heavy weights
- Hip and knee deformities cause uneven spine forces, resulting in disc bulging or prolapse and sciatic nerve compression.
- Disc bulge and compression on the sciatic nerve at the spine due to weak core muscles and disc degeneration or thinning due to aging
- Falls
- Muscle spasms, trigger points, spondylitis, spondylolisthesis, fractures, and piriformis syndrome
- Patients can recuperate at home with physiotherapy because most reasons don’t result in lasting disc or nerve damage.
Diagnosis of Sciatica
Sciatica is diagnosed based on symptoms and a thorough physical examination. The physiotherapist does specialized neurological testing to determine the origin and severity of sciatica.
In a few instances, X-rays and MRIs are required for serious disorders.
Physiotherapy treatment for sciatica
Our major goal is to reduce pain while gradually improving spinal health through progressively harder core-strengthening activities.
TENS, ultrasound, mobilization, myofascial release, dry needling, and cupping are all techniques to lessen pain and enhance blood flow at the injury site.
To prevent future disc injury and to lessen strain or stress on the spine, we teach Dos and Don’ts.
Teach appropriate posture, whether lifting weights at home or the workplace.
Depending on the state of recovery, specific resistance activities for the core muscles will be practiced.
Dr. Praveen Mikkili Paul, PT
City Head, Bengaluru
Dr. Praveen Mikkili Paul is a Healthcare professional with close to a decade of experience in Hospital and Home Healthcare management. He is a certified Physiotherapist and expert in musculoskeletal and sports injury management.