Sciatica symptoms and how to treat them in Grand Rapids, MI

Many people put off dealing with conditions like sciatica in Grand Rapids, Michigan. However, not dealing with your symptoms quickly can cause them to worsen, and it may even cause other troublesome symptoms to show up. However, some people may not know if their symptoms are caused by sciatica or how to treat them. Here are the top three symptoms of sciatica: 

1.   Pain in the lower body

You might think that the title of this section should be “Pain in the lower back,” but pain is a sciatica symptom that reaches into the entire lower body. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower spine, over the buttock and into the leg and foot. For this reason, sciatica pain is transmitted from the lower back to each of these other areas of the lower body. In fact, many sciatica patients have said the pain feels like it’s moving from one area to another. 

2.   Other nerve sensations

Pain is definitely the most common nerve sensation caused by sciatica, but there are other sensations that can be symptoms of this condition, too. For example, people with sciatica tend to feel numbness in the buttock, leg or foot. Tingling in these areas is also a common symptom of this condition. You may also feel like parts of your leg or foot are burning, and this is yet another nerve sensation typically associated with  sciatica. 

3.   Muscle weakness

In addition to the nerve sensations caused by sciatica, you may also experience muscle weakness. The sciatic nerve is a major pathway through which the brain sends movement commands to the leg muscles. When you have sciatica, this nerve is pinched or irritated. This can lead to disruption of movement signals, and this means your muscle movement may be weaker because they aren’t receiving the full signal from the brain. Weaker muscle movement can make walking, getting up from a chair and other normal daily tasks more difficult. 

Find treatment for sciatica symptoms at Advent Physical Therapy in Grand Rapids, MI

These sciatica symptoms can make daily life more difficult for you, and this is why you should seek treatment at Advent Physical Therapy’s Grand Rapids clinics. Our team can perform a complimentary to make sure sciatica is causing your symptoms. We can then create a personalized treatment plan for you, and your plan may make use of therapy techniques like: 

• Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Cupping
• Manual therapy

Contact us today to schedule an initial appointment if sciatica symptoms are making your daily life harder.