Understanding what causes sciatic nerve pain in people in Byron Center, MI

Sciatica is a unique type of back pain that causes the pain to extend out of your lower back and into one of your legs. This is because the sciatic nerve that is affected by inflammation in sciatica runs from your lower back into each of your legs. Sciatica usually affects only one leg, but it can affect both at the same time on rare occasions. When the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed, it can be painful for you to sit, stand, bend over and do anything that involves the use of your lower back and the affected leg. 

Some mild pain and tingling in your lower back and leg can develop on occasion, but this usually goes away after stretching or moving around. Long-lasting or more intense pain requires assistance from a professional for treatment. 

While physical therapists are capable of providing excellent treatment for sciatica, it’s in your best interest to prevent it from developing in the first place. Some causes of sciatica cannot be avoided, but many can. That’s why you should take a moment to review the causes of sciatica to see what changes you should make to prevent sciatic nerve pain.

Preventable causes of sciatic nerve pain

• Poor posture — Poor posture, especially when sitting, increases strain on your lower back that can lead to the inflammation that causes sciatica. Sitting with your back straight, feet flat on the ground and your hips and knees level can reduce pressure off the lower back. You should also take frequent breaks to stretch and move around if you work a job that requires long hours of sitting.
• Weak and tense muscles — Weak and tense muscles fail to provide full support for your spine and upper body. This can result in an increase of strain on your lower back, which may lead to the development of sciatic nerve pain. An inactive lifestyle leads to this kind of weakness and tension. You can avoid it by exercising more often or enjoying more physical activities that engage your back and core muscles. 

Unavoidable causes of sciatic nerve pain

Unavoidable may not be the exact correct term here because a healthy lifestyle can help prevent some of these conditions from developing, but, in many cases, these conditions are the result of aging or other factors outside of your control:

• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes 

Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Byron Center, MI, for sciatica treatment

Regardless of the cause of sciatica, physical therapy can help. If you live near Byron Center, Michigan, and are suffering from sciatic nerve pain, visit our Advent Physical Therapy clinic to see what we can do for you. Contact our team today for more information about sciatica treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.