Radiating sciatica pain or numbness through your buttock, leg, and foot can stop you from performing everyday tasks and ruin your sleep. At 43rd St. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, in the Theater District of Manhattan, the team helps you find the cause of your sciatica and treats it using non-surgical approaches like spinal decompression and acupuncture. For more information about sciatica, call the New York City office to reserve your appointment or book online today.
Sciatica is a type of nerve aggravation that happens in the lower back part of your spine. Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back, through your hips and buttocks, and down your legs.
When a herniated disc or bone spur places pressure on your sciatic nerve, you get symptoms of sciatica.
Sciatica normally only affects one side of your body. You might get pain, tingling, or numbness in the affected leg. Although your symptoms can be severe, sciatica often resolves itself over time. If it doesn’t, the team at 43rd St. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation can treat the underlying cause to relieve your symptoms and help you walk comfortably again.
Sciatica symptoms vary from person to person. However, they all occur in one of your legs. Your symptoms might include:
Your sciatica pain might feel like a dull ache, or you might get jolts of severe pain. Prolonged sitting or laying down can aggravate your symptoms, making it hard to get a good night’s sleep. The pain can affect everyday life and cause you to struggle at work.
There are several potential causes of sciatica, including bone spurs, herniated discs, and tumors. These and other conditions can compress your sciatic nerve and cause symptoms. You’re at a higher risk of developing sciatica if you:
Your risk for sciatica increases as you age because of age-related changes to your spine. While you can’t always prevent sciatica, you can reduce your chances of getting it by exercising regularly and improving your posture.
At 43rd St. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the team evaluates you during a consultation and examination. They might perform tests like X-rays to find bone spurs or other potential causes of your sciatica.
Then, they recommend treatments based on your needs. Your sciatica treatment plan might involve:
The team can realign your spine with chiropractic care to alleviate symptoms of sciatica. Successful chiropractic adjustments can also help prevent your sciatica from returning in the future.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy involving the placement of needles along energy lines in your body. A licensed acupuncturist places the fine needles at specific points in your skin to balance your energy and treat a wide range of conditions, including sciatica.
During spinal decompression therapy, the team stretches your back on a table or with special equipment to relieve pressure throughout your back and ease the pain of sciatica.
Custom orthotics are high-quality inserts for your shoes. They give you extra support while standing or walking, which can help relieve sciatica symptoms.
The team at 43rd St. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation can relieve some of the pressure on your sciatic nerve using various massage techniques.
Certain exercises and stretches can help you improve function in your back to relieve sciatica pain.
If your sciatica symptoms don’t go away with home care and rest, call 43rd St. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation or book an evaluation online today.