Sciatica Treatment in Barrie, On.

Symptoms of Sciatica

When the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated, it can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Pain that radiates from the lower back, through the hips, and down the leg (often only on one side of the body)

  • Numbness or tingling (pins-and-needles sensation) in the leg or foot

  • Muscle weakness in the affected leg

  • Difficulty moving or controlling the affected leg or foot

The severity of these symptoms can range from mild discomfort to intense, shooting pain. The pain may worsen with prolonged sitting, standing, or sudden movements, and can significantly affect day-to-day activities.

Sciatica Overview

Sciatica is the irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve—the longest and thickest nerve in the human body. This nerve is formed by a bundle of five nerve roots(L4-S3) that merge from the lumbar spine and originate in the buttock/gluteal region. It creates a thick, rope-like structure that runs deep in the glutes, extending down the back of the leg to the foot.

We have two sciatic nerves: one on the left and one on the right. These nerves help transmit signals that allow us to feel sensations along the back of the thigh, calf, and foot, and they also aid in movement.

True injury to the sciatic nerve is rare; 99.9% of the time, it functions without us even noticing. However, sciatica can occur when the nerve is affected by chemical stress (such as inflammation) or mechanical stress (such as pressure on the nerve).

If you’re experiencing sciatica, you may feel mild to severe pain along the nerve's pathway—from the lower back through the hips, buttocks, and down the legs. Sciatica can also cause muscle weakness, numbness, or a tingling pins-and-needles sensation in the leg, foot, or toes. Sciatica refers to pain that occurs along the path of the sciatic nerve, which is the longest and thickest nerve in the human body. This nerve originates from five spinal nerve roots—L4, L5, S1, S2, and S3—which emerge from the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. These nerve roots merge to form the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg, extending all the way to the feet.

We actually have two sciatic nerves—one on the left and one on the right. These nerves are essential for transmitting signals that allow us to feel sensations along the back of the thigh, calf, and foot, and they also aid in movement.

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated, inflamed, pinched, or compressed. The most common causes of sciatica include conditions such as:

  • Herniated discs (where a disc bulges and presses on the nerve)

  • Spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal)

  • Bone spurs (bony growths that press on the nerve)

Less commonly, sciatica can result from trauma, tumours, or other medical conditions that affect the spine.

Sciatic Nerve and Its Role

The sciatic nerve is crucial for motor and sensory function in the lower body. It helps control the muscles in the back of the thigh, lower leg, and foot, while also allowing us to feel sensations in these areas. Even though the sciatic nerve is constantly at work, true injury to it is rare—99.9% of the time, it functions without causing any issues.

However, sciatica can occur when the nerve is subjected to chemical stress (such as inflammation) or mechanical stress (such as pressure from a herniated disc or bone spur). When this happens, the nerve’s ability to transmit signals properly is disrupted, leading to pain and other symptoms.

Managing Sciatica: How Can Physiotherapists Help with Sciatic Nerve Pain?

As Physiotherapists, we are trained to identify the root cause of your pain and treat that cause. It is important to treat not only the symptoms but also the underlying structure causing your sciatica. We use different techniques to help decrease nerve pain such as advanced manual therapy techniques, neural-mobilization techniques to improve the mobility of the nerve, soft tissue releases, acupuncture, and exercise.

Many of these exercises, such as stretches, and nerve flossing can be done at home, but it is important to meet with your physiotherapist to ensure that you are doing the correct exercises and doing them properly. Improper exercising could exacerbate the issue. Your physiotherapist may also suggest certain postures, such as sleeping or sitting postures, or postures for carrying out tasks such as lifting. These can help not only to address the current problem but also to prevent it from recurring in the future.

Every patient is different so treatment may be different too.  A Physiotherapist can help you manage your pain. 

What You Can Do At Home...

Here are a few things you can do at home to help alleviate the discomfort of sciatica:

  1. Avoid prolonged sitting or standing. If sitting is your aggravating factor, try to avoid it for extended periods. If standing causes discomfort, limit that as well. The key is to avoid staying in any aggravating position for too long—whether it's 10 minutes or 5, depending on your pain level.

  2. Take frequent movement breaks. Short, frequent movements can help ease discomfort. Everyone’s pain triggers and relief methods vary, so listen to your body.

  3. Remove objects from back pockets. Wallets, phones, or other items should be taken out of your back pocket. Sitting on them places direct pressure on the sciatic nerve, which can worsen symptoms. Use a purse or carry items in your front pockets instead.

  4. Take short walks. Gradually increasing your walking distance can help relieve sciatica pain and promote normal movement over time.

  5. Use heat or cold therapy. Many people find relief by alternating between heat and cold packs. Applying them several times a day can reduce pain and improve mobility, both immediately and over time.

These are general tips, and it’s always best to consult a physiotherapist for advice tailored to your specific condition. If you have questions or want to discuss treatment options for sciatica, feel free to contact us, and one of our physiotherapists will be happy to assist.

Share this information with someone who’s been struggling with sciatica, and remind them that it can improve with time, physiotherapy, and targeted exercises!

Written By: Preya Ramdass. PT. B.M.R.(PT), DIP. MANIP. (PT), FCAMPT. CIDN

Registered Physiotherapist. Acupuncture & Dry Needling Provider. Clinical Pilates Instructor & Clinic Owner.

References:

Integrative Physiotherapy is a clinic in Barrie that takes a patient-centred approach, offering personalized, one-on-one care with a focus on hands-on (manual) therapy. Our mission is to empower patients by delivering high-quality, tailored treatments in a friendly and engaging environment. We use the most effective treatment techniques to ensure every patient feels supported, motivated, and cared for.

Our therapists are dedicated to ongoing skill development, providing thorough assessments and individualized treatments without the use of assistants or double-booking. This ensures you receive focused attention to reach your functional and sports goals as efficiently as possible.

We're here to help you achieve your goals! Contact us today to book an appointment—don’t let pain hold you back!