How can you tell if you have sciatica? Check out 2 easy tests to tell if you have Sciatica at home so you can decide if you should see a doctor or a physical therapist. Sciatica is a very common condition that often causes low back and leg pain extending often to foot and toes typically on one side the lower extremities. The use of the word Sciatica was first described by Hippocrates and many felt the time the pain origninated from the hip and not the lower lumbar spine. Also the name sciatica is found to originate from the Greek "ishcios" meaning hip. Later the ideas about the origins moved from the hip to thinking the lumbar disc being the source of Sciatica pain was discovered later the 1930's.

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The symptoms of sciatica are all too common and pain can be pain felt in the lower back extending back into one or both of the lower extremities. Most cases of sciatica abolish in greater %90 of the population typically in 6-8 weeks with the passage of time and modiffication of activities of daily living. Often patients will describe shooting, numbness, weakness,and tingling in one and sometimes both of the lower extremities. The nerve roots most commonly affected are the L4, L5 and S1 nerve roots. The nerve roots provide nerve supply for sensory, motor and pain fibers in the lower extremities.

In many cases a lumbar disc bulge or herniation is to blame for sciatica but stenosis, bone spurs, piriformis syndrome, pregnancy and inflammation can cause problems for the sciatic nerve which all can cause a pinching of the sciatic nerve. The nerve has a retrograde and antegrade flow to and from the spinal cord. If the nerve is injured it can suffer from various types of perpheral nerve injury described in these 3 types: Neuropraxia, Axonotmesis or Neurotmesis. In the cases of Neuropraxia prognosis is good and in cases of the Neurotmesis in these cases the nerve can be damaged and certain symptoms persist and can cause permanent damage resulting in muscle loss, permanent altered sensation. Several factors can influence this recovery from whether it was a repetitive nerve injury, single trauma causing direct pressure or streching.



In certain cases patients should seek immediate help if they have a alternation of bowel and bladder symptoms, progressive weakness, gait abnormalities, severe balance problems, fever saddle anesthesia or signs of infection or relatively constant severe pain especially at night. If you have any of these symptoms seek help immediately from a physician.


Conservative treatment is recommended for 6-8 weeks. Most clinicians will recommend to stay active, limit sitting to not more than 20 minutes at time, avoid smoking, and gradual return of activities as you can tolerate. Expect mild pain but nothing that causes you to stop your progress more than 2 days.

If you are unsure if you have sciatica the following two tests are quick and easy to see if it present.

The first is the Straight Leg Raise Test. You need a partner to help you with this test. The person being tested has to be on their back. The examiner then lifts the leg by the ankle with the knee straight and at about 30 degrees off the table if you experience the same symptoms you are complaining about it will be a positive test. Once the symptoms start if they are increased by pasively moving the foot into dorsiflexion or towards the shin it confirms the test.

Second is the Slump test that is performed in sitting. Once the person slumps he actively extends the knee then passively to get full extension. At this time flexion of the neck forward causes the symptoms of sciatica to be reproduced and neck extension or looking up reduces the pain. This test was founded once a patient reported pain only getting into a low sports car reproducing their pain.

Both tests should reproduce the symptoms or description of pain they are having. Often times these tests can elicit other symptoms that are uncomfortable and painful but not the ones they are concerened about. If this is the case it is a negative test.

For a physical therapy consultation, wellness evaluation or hire Tom to speak at your next event email us at tomw@apexorthopedicnj.com.

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For a physical therapy consultation, wellness evaluation or hire Tom to speak at your next event email us at tomw@apexorthopedicnj.com

Check out our Free 12 Tips to Ease Back Pain by opening this link at [ Ссылка ]

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