Back Pain & Sciatica Relief
Have you got a back injury that causes you pure agony? Maybe you have not just back pain but also other symptoms like a pins and needles sensation in your back, buttocks, or legs. Back pain and the sciatic nerve disorder called sciatica are often connected, and they can come together to make your life absolutely miserable. When symptoms like these occur, it’s completely normal to react with worry and frustration — after all, nobody wants to think about going through invasive, painful, and potentially dangerous surgery to get help, but you may be worried that you’ll have to do so. There’s good news, though: The majority of back pain and sciatica is very treatable using totally noninvasive and nonsurgical methods like the physical therapy we offer. Contact Physical Therapy Services in Brooksville and Spring Hill, FL today to request an appointment with an experienced physical therapist.
What are back pain and sciatica?
The physical therapy team is often asked to explain more about sciatica and back pain. Even though you may feel pretty well acquainted with the awful pain, you may not know exactly why it happens. This information can be incredibly helpful as you move through your physical therapy program.
Your spine is the most important component of your back. The vertebrae, facet joints, discs, muscles, and connective tissues all work together to give you the support you need to move comfortably and efficiently. However, as your physical therapist can tell you, it doesn’t take much for something to go very wrong, leaving you in need of physical therapy right away.
The back pain that leads you to physical therapy may be chronic (lasting for months or even years,) or it may be acute (short-term pain that has some kind of underlying issue like an accident or injury.) No matter what kind of pain you’ve got, your physical therapist is here to help with a physical therapy program for pain relief.
Sciatica occurs when your sciatic nerve, or the roots of your sciatic nerve, malfunction or sustain damage. Your sciatic nerve is a huge nerve that’s responsible for relaying commands and impulses. If your sciatic nerve gets pinched or otherwise damaged, it can’t continue to perform its job. The result can be motor control issues in your leg, shooting pain down the leg, numbness in the leg or foot, or a pins and needles feeling in the buttocks, leg, or foot. As you’ll learn in physical therapy, relieving the other symptoms is just as important as relieving the sciatica pain.
Causes of back pain and sciatic nerve pain
There are a variety of causes of back pain and sciatic nerve pain. Your physical therapist will review the potential causes of pain with you when you’re starting your physical therapy program. By knowing the causes, you can better tailor a physical therapy program for your needs, and your physical therapist can help you make lifestyle changes that may help. Causes may include all of the following.
- Weight gain, including pregnancy-related weight gain.
- Degenerative disc disease that occurs due to aging. This can include osteoarthritis, as well.
- Herniated disc, which can occur after an accident or injury but can also occur over time
- Auto accidents
- Sports injuries
No matter what the reason for the back pain and sciatica, your physical therapist is here to help you feel better.
How physical therapy can help you heal from back pain and sciatica
Studies have demonstrated that physical therapy is clearly effective for back pain, and it’s also a great way to alleviate sciatica symptoms. Your physical therapist can do a comprehensive evaluation so they can design a program that really works for you. Your evaluation takes the cause of pain, the type of pain, and your history all into account.
Treatment often includes various effective therapies such as corrective exercises, ice and heat therapy, and customized lifestyle recommendations. You can take control of your pain today simply by calling our physical therapy team now at Brooksville, Spring Hill & Bushnell, FL. Get in touch to take your first step towards freedom from pain!
FAQs
How do I know if my back pain is serious?
The pain you experience in your back may either be acute or chronic, depending on how it was sustained. Acute pain means that it lasts for a short time and is usually severe. Chronic pain means that it lasts generally three months or longer and it can either cause dull or severe persistent pain. The pain you experience is typically either rooted in your back muscles or the bones in your spine. If your pain is severe enough to hinder you from doing daily tasks, if it suddenly worsens, or if it has lasted longer than three months, then it is time to seek the help of a physical therapist.
How do I get relief from back pain?
You can treat your back pain with physical therapy. Physical therapy can address back pain by helping to improve your range of motion, strengthening the muscles in the affected areas, and using targeted massage to reduce tension. In many situations, working with a physical therapist to improve can significantly reduce the severity of your back pain, and may even help you avoid more invasive procedures, such as surgery.
What is the best physical therapy treatment for back pain?
Your physical therapist will design a treatment plan based on your specific needs. Your individualized treatment plan will incorporate the best methods possible for relieving your pain, facilitating the healing process, and restoring function and movement to the affected area(s) of your back. Your initial appointment will consist of a comprehensive evaluation, which will help your physical therapist discover which forms of treatment will be best for the orthopedic, neurologic, or cardiovascular condition you are experiencing. The main stages of your plan will focus on pain relief, which may include any combination of ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, posture improvement, targeted stretches and exercises, or any other treatment that your physical therapist may deem fit. While there is no singular method for relieving back pain, your physical therapist will make sure you receive the best treatments for your needs.
How do you relieve back pain without drugs?
While medication is easy, it only helps your pain subside for a short amount of time. Over time, certain drugs can cause some unfavorable side effects, and in some cases, they can be habit-forming. With NSAIDs, you run the risk of blood clots, heart attack, or stroke. With corticosteroids, you run the risk of cataracts, high blood sugar levels, and bone loss. Luckily, there is a much safer and healthier alternative to treating persistent back pain: physical therapy. At your initial consultation, your physical therapist will ask you several questions regarding your medical history, lifestyle, and painful area(s). This information will assist your physical therapist in creating the best treatment plan for you and your specific needs, so you can be provided with long-term results.