Leg Pain?
Sunday June 14, 2009
Do you suffer from pain and burning in the leg region? It could be sciatica. Sciatica is a common cause of low back pain and leg pain. It is usually caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve from a herniated disc. Sciatica occurs most frequently in people 30 to 50 years of age and can be a debilitating disorder in some people. Sciatica normally only affects one side of the lower extremities, and the pain often radiates from the lower back all the way down the back of the thigh and the leg.
Comments
Where do I find a counselor to guide me in the right direction to the appropiate PT school?
These blogs are meant to briefly provide an overview of a topic and Dr Laura is doing a great job. The greatest gift one can give is their time and after that their talent and
knowledge. The treatment of sciatica can be frustrating and sometimes the actual cause is not easy to discern (as the research literature elaborates). However, it is helpful to see a medical professional such as Dr Laura on a regular basis. Although I have pursued “alternative care” I have always kept in touch with my family physician for continuity of care, which has been very valuable. when the topic of “other causes of leg pain that can mimic sciatica” comes up, I will post more.
Jerry Hesch,MHS, PT
After working at a spine surgery center, we found that many cases of “sciatica” were actually trigger points in the hip and lower back. Trigger point therapy is available by massage or injections. The injections are covered by most insurance, so I am surprised that more doctors don’t use TrP therapy.
In treating trigger points, it seems very appropriate to set a limit on how many, how long, how much $. Finding TP’s is easy, resolving them can at times be much more complex than just performing TP releases via the different approaches. I believe that if no lasting benefit is achieved in 3 visits, it is prudent to question the technique, diagnosis, etc. A relevant question is, what is causing or perpetuating the trigger points? Postural overload can be one cause and a skilled Physical Therapist can be helpful. TP injections are of course invasive and do carry some risk. Yes, a few very adverse effects have happened in response to TP injection, which is why it is necessary to progressively back up several times during the procedure, so that if a vein was accidentally trespassed, there will not be a large volume. Some have responded adversely to marcaine, etc. Caveat Emptor.