Suffering from Sciatica?
Physical Therapy Has Solutions
Are you dealing with burning, shooting pain that radiates from your lower back into your foot? This is the hallmark of sciatica, an often misunderstood nerve condition. While sciatica can be extremely painful—and often debilitating—you don’t need to despair. Physical therapy at Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions has solutions to help you find relief.
Sciatica is named for the sciatic nerve, one of the primary nerves in your body. Its roots are located in your lower back, and the nerve runs through the buttocks and down the back of the leg into the foot. While some people will refer to any pain in the lower extremities as sciatica, the term only refers to symptoms that stem from the sciatic nerve.
To help you better understand sciatica and what physical therapy can do to help, we want to share a case study of one of our patients, a 55-year-old woman we’ll call Sally. If you suspect you may have sciatica, schedule an appointment with us today!
Exploring Sally’s Symptoms
Sally’s pain was quite severe. She mostly felt it in her right leg—a shooting, electric pain that seemed to split down the back of her calf muscle. Occasionally, she felt a dull ache in her lower back, but her leg pain caused her the most trouble. It was worse when she was lying down or had to be on her feet for long periods.
The other issue—and the reason she ultimately found her way to our clinic—was that she also experienced a persistent pins and needles sensation down the back of her leg, which alarmed her. As her leg began to feel weak and heavy, she knew her symptoms weren’t going away on their own.
Identifying the Root Cause
Our physical therapists listened to Sally explain her symptoms and then performed a comprehensive physical evaluation to assess her strength, range of motion, and key areas. We also took a complete health history.
While we could confidently say Sally had sciatica, it was more important for us to determine why she had it. The truth is that sciatica isn’t so much a condition in and of itself as a sign that something is wrong with the sciatic nerve—usually that it’s been compressed or irritated.
So we dug a little deeper and confirmed what we suspected: Sally had developed a herniated disc. Herniated discs occur when the cushiony material between the spine’s vertebrae bulges outward. In Sally’s case, that bulging disc was pressing against her right sciatic nerve root, sending symptoms radiating down the nerve itself.
Addressing the Issue
Once we knew Sally’s sciatica had developed due to a herniated disc, we were able to create a personalized treatment plan to address it. Fortunately for Sally, physical therapy is an excellent way of resolving pain from a herniated disc.
We began with acute pain management, particularly through manual therapy techniques like spinal mobilizations (guiding the back through its current range of motion) or soft tissue manipulation (a massage-like manipulation of the muscles and other tissue).
These techniques offered acute pain relief so Sally could begin working on a personalized exercise program. At first, we focused on gentle back stretches and encouraged Sally to walk around her block a few times a week.
But as she improved, we began incorporating core strengthening exercises, too. Why core strength? Well, your core muscles support and stabilize the spine; the stronger they are, the more support they offer the lower back. We guided her through a progressive series of exercises, increasing the intensity as she got stronger.
Finally, we gave Sally the tools she needed to prevent future herniated discs. Namely, we encouraged her to stay active, maintain her spine mobility, and continue strengthening her core. We also showed her proper lifting technique so she would be less likely to injure herself.
Find Your Own Sciatica Relief Today
If you have sciatica symptoms, you don’t have to suffer! The team at Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions can help you pinpoint the cause of your sciatica and find a solution that works for you. Call us today to get started.
Quote of the Month
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
– Walt Disney
“I felt immediate relief in my first session and continued twice a week for a few weeks.”
I first went to Innovative Therapy Watertown to do the Red Light Therapy with Michael after a serious SI joint injury.
I wasn’t able to stand up from the seated position without help and had excruciating pain. I felt immediate relief in my first session and continued twice a week for a few weeks.
Michael was very knowledgeable and patient with my healing. I have been going on and off for past 2 years now with various injuries.
I recently slipped on a muddy slope and fell on my tailbone. I got in for the Red Light Therapy within a few hours of the injury and then I didn’t even bruise. This treatment has helped me with neck pain, joint pain, sciatica etc.
They offer packaging pricing, which makes it very reasonable.
And your first treatment is complementary.
Speaking with Clients in the waiting room that are getting physical therapy have talked very highly of their services also.
I highly recommend Micheal and the Red Light Therapy!
— Lee Ann Adams
“I’ve been doing extremely better.”
“I’ve been coming to Innovative physical therapy to see Dr. Ashely for 3 months now and I’ve been doing extremely better. The staff is super friendly and they ensure that you are comfortable and in a welcoming environment. They took the time to understand what I was going through and work with me and my schedule. Highly recommend!!”
— A. P.
“Been coming here for a few weeks now and my pelvic pain has improved a lot.”
“I was referred here for help with pelvic pain. Ashley was my physical therapist, she was amazing in pinpointing the issues and helping with the pain. I’ve been coming here for a few weeks now and my pelvic pain has improved alot, I no longer feel the pain I originally arrived with. Plus everyone here is super nice, the receptionists up front are always the best at greeting you.”
—J. R.
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy
Could Help You Beat Your Pains?
Laser therapy is a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to treat pain and aid in the recovery of many conditions. Contact Innovative Physical Therapy Solutions today! We’ll set up a free consult for you and figure out whether laser therapy could help in reducing your pain.
No Referral/Prescription Needed — No Insurance Needed — No Expiration On Package Treatments — We Take Cash, Card, or Health Savings Account
Innovative PT Solutions Now Provides At Home Physical Therapy with
Telehealth
Exercise of the Month
Bridging
Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Tighten your core and lift your hips toward the ceiling, squeezing your glutes at the top. Lower slowly and repeat to strengthen your hips and lower back.
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Feel Better by Eating Better!
Golden Gazpacho with Minted Cream
Fresh, mint-flecked cream is an elegant final touch to this summery soup of yellow tomatoes, peppers, and squash. This recipe originally appeared in The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Vegetable Cookbook by Brent Ridge, Sandy Gluck, and Josh Kilmer-Purcell.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. yellow tomatoes, cored and cut into large chunks
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into large chunks
- 1 small yellow squash (4 ounces), cut into large chunks
- 2 shallots, peeled and halved
- 1 cup carrot juice
- 2 Tbsp. sherry wine vinegar
- 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Step 1 In a blender, combine tomatoes, bell pepper, squash, shallots, carrot juice, vinegar, and salt; purée until smooth. Transfer to a container and refrigerate until chilled.
Step 2 In a small saucepan of boiling water, cook the mint leaves for 10 seconds to set the color. Drain and rinse under cold water. Squeeze dry and finely chop. Transfer to a small bowl with sour cream and stir to combine.
Step 3 Serve soup in chilled bowls and top each with a dollop of minted sour cream.
https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/recipes/a5197/golden-gazpacho-minted-cream-recipe-clx0614
Let’s Get You Better ASAP!
Don’t let pain dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your mobility and well-being with our expert support. Start your journey to a healthier you today.
Contact us today for your free consultation, or forward this newsletter to a friend in need. They will thank you for it.
