sciatica

Get to know sciatica

Mr. Cheung is 45-year-old office worker living a sedentary lifestyle. Two weeks ago, he helped with some housework at home. There was no discomfort during the work, but lower back pain developed the next morning, spreading to the right lower leg gradually and became more and more intolerable. Mr. Cheung attended doctor and was diagnosed of sciatica. A referral for physiotherapy was made.

Sciatica is a common disease. According to statistics, 90% of the general population experience at least one episode of lower back pain in their life. The lumbar spine, which is the part of the spine in the lower back region, is made up of five vertebrae. Between the vertebrae are the intervertebral discs. Many ligaments, muscles and tendons connect the vertebrae together. All these tissues can contribute to lower back pain.

The common cause of sciatica is the protrusion of intervertebral discs. The protruded disc may irritate or compress on the surrounding nerves. In less serious conditions, pain may be experienced in the legs. In more serious conditions, the function of the nerves can be severely affected, leading to weakness and numbness in the affected lower limb.

Possible symptoms of sciatica

Pain in the lower back region
Pain may radiate to the hip, thigh, lower leg, or even foot
Pain may increase with coughing and sneezing and forceful back movements
Numbness, pins and needles or burning sensations along the back of the affected lower limb
Weakness in the lower limb muscles

High risk groups

Elderly
Manual workers
Pregnant women
People with obesity
People with scoliosis
People with sedentary lifestyle
People with prolonged poor postures

Poor postures

Poor postures in lifting heavy objects may lead to prolapsed intervertebral discs. When lifting heavy objects, the back should be kept erect. Squatting through the lower limbs to pick up the object rather than bending through the back.Poor standing posture can lead to an increased stress on the joints and muscles in the lower back, leading to overuse and thus pain.

Physiotherapy for sciatica

Physiotherapy can decrease lower back pain in 70-80% patients. Different treatment techniques may be applied according to the individual conditions of each patient. Common treatments include:

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is used to relieve the tension in soft tissues, mobilize the stiff joints and increase blood circulation in the affected regions.

Electrotherapy

Different kinds of electrotherapy, such as ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential therapy (IFT), may be applied for pain relief and improving circulation.

Lumbar traction

Lumbar traction relieves the stress on intervertebral discs and surrounding nerves.

Postural education

Correct postures will be suggested by the physiotherapist. Exercise will be taught to maintain the effect of treatment and prevent recurrence.

Mr. Cheung made an appointment for physiotherapy. According to his condition, the therapist conducted manual therapy, lumbar traction and electrotherapy. The lower back pain and radiation in the lower limbs disappeared after two weeks of treatment. The therapist also taught Mr. Cheung to do self-maintenance exercises and adopt correct postures in daily life to prevent recurrence.

Tips for dealing with lower back pain

Adequate rest and sleep helps to decrease discomfort and assist recovery
Bed rest on relatively hard matrix
Hot pack helps to relax muscles and decrease pain
Avoid bending over or handling heavy objects
Avoid sitting in sofa or on low seats