Low back pain with or without sciatica

Low back pain with or without Sciatica

What is sciatica?

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Sciatica is a condition where your sciatic nerve produces pain from an injury or irritation.
Along with pain, you may also experience tingling or numbness in your back or bottom that
may radiate down your leg. You have 2 sciatic nerves, one on each side of your body
running down your legs to your toes. 

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In more severe cases, you may also experience muscle weakness. A rare but very severe
symptom is urinary and/or faecal incontinence. *In these cases, please seek immediate
medical attention.

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Sciatica can sometimes be found in addition with low back pain.

What are the causes for low back pain with or without sciatica?

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Specific back pain
- Herniated disc - bulging of the disc in between vertebrae (common cause for sciatica)
- Fracture
- Facet joint pain
- Inflammatory low back pain. Common in people with a condition called ankylosing
spondylitis which causes inflammation in your spinal joints and ligaments

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Non-Specific back pain
- Lifting heavy or awkward objects
- Being obese
- General inactivity
- Job related stress/demanding job
- Standing for long periods of time

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How can I manage this?

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- Continuing with normal activities within capacity
- Tailored exercise program/ Group exercise programs
- Manual treatments (spinal manipulations/mobilisations/soft tissue work such as a
massage)
- Psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy
- Pharmacological management - Please discuss with your doctor before taking
anything

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Things to avoid/that will not help long term
- Belts/corsets
- Orthotics
- Spinal traction
- Acupuncture
- Electrotherapy
- Only relying on passive treatments

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