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Sciatica is an umbrella term used for leg referral pain. It's caused by an irritation to the sciatic nerve. The nerve starts at the back, and then travels to the bottom and down the leg. It may affect one side or both sides of the legs.
Sciatica can be a group of symptoms. People can experience one or a few of the following symptoms:
Pain - burning, shooting, sharp, pulling pain that may radiate down one or both legs
Numbness - down one or both sides of the body, it may be to the toes, or in a location along the leg.
Feelings of heaviness in one or both legs
Postural induced symptoms - slouching, prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, walking may bring on your symptoms
Sciatica can be relieved with walking, gentle movement, stretching, as well as manual therapy like osteopathy - targeting the lower back, glutes (bottom), hips and leg muscles, ligaments and joints.
It can be caused by many reasons including disc injury, lower back degeneration/arthritis, spinal stenosis, and may involve muscle guarding and spasm of the back and buttock muscles.
Chronic sciatica symptoms can come and go, and the reasons as to why this has recurred will be discussed in your consult, understanding what has been going on in your lifestyle, changes in movement patterns, and going through your previous history.
Your Burwood Osteopaths will work with you to relieve your symptoms and create a rehab program to prevent this from recurring.
