When a bulging disc squeezes on the sciatic nerve, it can cause radiating pain down the back of the leg. People describe this as a burning, aching, tingling, or throbbing sensation. The diagnosis is called lumbar radiculopathy because the source of the problem is the lower back (lumbar) and the transference of pain is down one or the other leg (usually not both). 

When to see a physical therapist for sciatica

If you’ve been living with sciatica, you may have tried a variety of treatments and medications to deal with pain. Under medical supervision, a provider will usually start with a medical exam and some testing which may include:

• MRI
• X-ray
• CT scan
• Electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction studies

Medications to treat sciatica often include anti-inflammatories and opioids as well as corticosteroid injections. Some patients also benefit from anti-seizure medications and antidepressants because of their side benefits of nerve pain relief.

But what if you’ve tried all of that and it’s still not working? 

You probably need a physical therapist who can help you with short- and long-term pain-relief from sciatica. 

Seeing a physical therapist for sciatica: What to expect

Your physical therapist will do a thorough assessment of your condition which will include exploration of your medical history and any history of trauma that caused the sciatica. You’ll be asked to perform different stretches and leg lifts which can help the therapist identify your range of motion and functionality. 

Your therapist will also assess how you walk (your gait) to see how sciatica nerve pain impacts the way you move. For example, some people might be experiencing so much pain, they compensate by adding more weight to the other leg, further compromising the body.

Your physical therapist will also ask different questions about how sciatica affects your daily life, such as:

• Is it triggered by sitting or lying down?
• Does it worsen as the day goes on or is it about the same?
• Does walking and exercise seem to help, or does it not make any difference?

Once your therapist has a full understanding of your condition, they’ll develop a customized physical therapy program for you. Depending on the severity of your sciatica and the pain you’re experiencing, a PT program may last anywhere from eight to 12 weeks. You’ll usually need to go on-site for therapy at least twice a week, if not three times. Frequency helps the body respond more readily and helps you gain momentum.

Again, every patient is different. Your physical therapist and staff will accommodate your busy life and help make sure you’re getting the most out of your program.

How physical therapists treat sciatica nerve pain

Your physical therapy program is meant to accomplish certain goals over the course of your treatment, including:

• Relieving pain in your lower back, thigh, leg and buttock
• Reducing muscle spasm
• Restoring joint function in the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint
• Improving lower body mobility
• Preventing pain flair-ups in the future 

To accomplish this, your physical therapist may introduce a wide variety of treatments and techniques to reduce sciatica nerve pain. Some of the most effective treatment options include:

Strengthening exercises – such as bridge holds and use of resistance bands and weight training

Joint mobilization – when a therapist applies joint pressure to produce a therapeutic effect

Dry needling – the use of fine needles to identify, target and release pain through trigger points in the body

Extension and flexion exercises – exercising backward and forward in specific ways to target and reduce radiating pain symptoms

Hot and cold therapies – used alternatingly to help stimulate blood flow to the affected area and reduce spasms, inflammation and pain

These are just some examples of the therapies that may be introduced. Your physical therapist will work with you along the way to identify appropriate treatments to minimize your pain and achieve optimal results.

Also keep in mind that it may take a few weeks to start experiencing relief from sciatica nerve pain. Physical therapy may be harder on some days than others. You may feel like you’re going forward and then experience a set back because of a pain trigger in your daily life. 

Be patient with yourself and with the physical therapy process. Your therapist will also give you a home exercise program to help you stay on track in between visits. It’s important to do your best to apply what you’ve learned at therapy at home as well. You may need to think in terms of lifelong wellness when it comes to sciatica and back pain. For many people, it comes and goes.

Ideally, you’ll want to implement the exercises you’ve been given at physical therapy into your daily life so you can maintain the gains you’ve achieved through your physical therapy program. 

Interested in talking to someone about sciatica nerve pain?

Give us a call at (941) 375-3006 or fill out the form to see if physical therapy is right for you. Same-week appointments are available.

The post Do I Need a Physical Therapist for Sciatica Nerve Pain appeared first on Restore Medical Partners.

In the past, spinal cord stimulators had batteries that had to be replaced or recharged every three to five years. Now, however, the Proclaim XR SCS System has a 10-year battery life, which allows you to benefit from years of neurostimulation without having to have a follow-up battery procedure. 

What kind of pain does a spinal cord stimulator help? 

The Proclaim XR SCS System is designed to help people who have chronic pain in the body and/or the arms or legs. This may include pain that occurs on one or both sides. It also includes pain associated with failed back surgery and chronic, untreatable low back and leg pain.

A spinal cord stimulator helps if you have tried a variety of methods to control your pain and the pain has returned or only subsided, and you have not found sufficient relief. People who get spinal cord stimulators may have tried treatments such as:

• Physical therapy
• Corticosteroid injections
• Neurotomy or radiofrequency ablation
• Weight loss
• Exercise
• Supplementation

If you’re frustrated with pain management treatments that haven’t worked for you, talk to your pain management doctor about the Proclaim XR SCS System to see if this is an option for you.

How does the Proclaim XR SCS system work?

The Proclaim XR SCS System uses BurstDR stimulation, a new type of waveform that was developed by doctors. BurstDR was created to mimic naturally occurring signal patterns in the body. 

There are two ways the brain receives information via the central nervous system:

• At steady intervals, or tonic waves
• In clustered, or “burst” waves 

It is the burst firing that the Proclaim XR SCS system mimics because researchers have found this type of firing of the brain affects not only the physical response to pain but also a patient’s emotional response. Oftentimes pain affects a person’s psyche as well as physical well-being. Pain and depression, for example, go hand-in-hand, and can produce a vicious circle of pain and emotional response to pain that feed one another. 

Am I a candidate for a spinal cord stimulator?

To determine whether you’re a good candidate for the Proclaim XR SCS System, talk to your pain management doctor about doing a temporary evaluation. 

This is the protocol for all potential SCS patients – a test period of about one week during which you’ll have a neurostimulation device placed on your body. The device has electrical “leads” (small wires) which (similar to the actual Proclaim XR SCS device) alter the signaling of pain to the brain. The test device, however, does not require surgical implantation.

During the trial period, you will keep track of your pain symptoms. Pay attention to whether you notice improvements in areas such as:

• Sleep
• Functionality and mobility
• Daily activities

If, at the end of your neurostimulation trial period, you have experienced at least 50 percent improvement in pain symptoms, you may be a good candidate for the Proclaim XR SCS System. Discuss your experience with your pain management doctor to determine whether the SCS is the right choice for you and to determine next steps.

What’s involved with Proclaim XR SCS implantation

If you and your pain management doctor determine that an SCS is right for you, having the spinal cord stimulator implanted is a surgical procedure that happens at a surgery center or hospital. This is an outpatient procedure, and you can go home the same day, but it does require anesthesia and you will need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment. 

After SCS implantation, you will need to take it easy for a while. Your doctor will provide you with postsurgical instructions for bathing and showering as well as activity. In the first week or two after the device is implanted, any pain you might experience is mostly from the small surgical wound as it heals. You’ll need to be especially careful not to move around a lot or lift heavy objects during this critical healing period.

Soon after the surgery, and certainly after the wound has healed, many patients report experiencing immediate relief from previous back, leg and arm pain, as the spinal cord stimulator begins to work by disrupting pain signals to the brain.

Curious about the Proclaim XR SCS System and whether it’s right for you?

Talk to a pain management specialist at Restore Medical Partners. 

The post Proclaim XR SCS System Battery is Recharge Free, Stops Pain Signals to the Brain appeared first on Restore Medical Partners.