Is It Sciatica?

Many clients present with sciatica-like symptoms and make assumptions without being diagnosed. It is always best to get a diagnosis from an orthopedist or chiropractor. Massage therapists do not diagnose, but they can help you decide whether to see an orthopedist or chiropractor. Once you have a diagnosis, we can help you manage the discomfort, tension, and increase your range of motion.

Key Signs of Sciatica

• Shooting or burning pain: Starts in the lower back or buttock and travels down the back of the thigh, calf, or into the foot and toes. It often feels like an electric shock.

• Nerve sensations: Numbness, tingling ("pins and needles"), or hot/cold feelings in the affected leg or foot.

• Triggered by movement: Worsens when sitting for long periods, standing up, bending forward, twisting, or coughing and sneezing.

• Muscle weakness: Difficulty lifting your foot or toes (such as "foot drop," where the front of the foot drags).

Simple Ways to Check at Home

• Straight Leg Raise Test: Lie flat on your back, keep your leg straight, and have someone slowly lift it (or lift it yourself) between 30 and 70 degrees. If sharp pain shoots down your leg, it strongly points to sciatic nerve compression.

• The Difference from General Back or Hip Pain: Standard lower back pain stays in the back or hips. Sciatica specifically travels past the buttock and down the leg. Hip problems usually cause pain in the groin or directly when bearing weight on the hip joint.

Is It Piriformis Syndrome? They both cause inflammation of the Sciatic Nerve.

Piriformis Syndrome

• Origin: Deep inside the buttock.

• Cause: The piriformis muscle (a small glute muscle) tightens, spasms, or swells and pinches the sciatic nerve outside of the spine.

• Pain Pattern: Centered in the buttock and upper thigh; rarely extends past the knee.

• Triggers: Worsens with hip rotation, prolonged sitting, climbing stairs, or crossing your legs.

• Associated Symptoms: Sharp tenderness directly over the glute muscle with little to no lower back pain.

No matter what that pain in the butt is, I can help!