“How To Get Rid Of Nagging Sciatica For Good So You Can Get Back To Being Yourself & Doing The Activities You Love Without Needing Painkillers Or Risking Surgery”
If you’ve had sciatica for any length of time, you’re familiar with how difficult it may be to do simple things like sleep comfortably, sit for long periods, or walk. You may already know that frustrating feeling of not being able to focus on anything or anyone around you fully, because you’re distracted by pain. You might have started wondering how others have gotten rid of their sciatica, and if there’s a proven way to get lasting results.
If you’ve tried to fix your sciatica only for it to keep coming back leaving you feeling like you’ve wasted time on short-term solutions, it’s because most advice targets the symptoms of sciatica, but does nothing to help the root cause.
Sciatica can affect nearly every aspect of life, and doesn’t affect anyone exactly the same way. It can be just a little tickle, or shooting stabbing nerve pain running from your hip down to your foot. There are several different causes of sciatica, and often, the diagnosis and solutions given only help for the short term. Things that help one type of sciatica, make other types of worse, and what helps one day, may not help the next. Or you might have symptoms that behave differently all the time, leaving you searching high and low for solutions that help you avoid surgeries or painkillers that often don’t work.
If you’re like most people, you try the old-school approach first. Wait for it to go away and see if it gets better. After all, maybe you just “slept wrong”…Many people try to avoid the doctors office so they raid their medicine cabinets, or look up exercises on YouTube or Google.
If this is you, you’re not alone. We hear this all the time. In fact, sciatica is one of the most common problems we see in our physical therapy clinic in Scottsdale.
One of our patients, Marian, had tried everything above on top of back surgery, unspecialized physical therapy, pain management, spinal injections, spinal electro-stimulation, acupuncture, chiropractic, and dietary analysis.
Marian told me, “When you go through this, you learn how many things you can no longer do if you can’t stand or walk.”
You don’t have to choose between surgery, and giving up the activities you love…
In the process of helping thousands of individuals with sciatica, we’ve found that sciatica is becoming more and more common because many of the solutions out there just take one area into consideration (muscles, joints, nerves, strength, etc.) The simple truth is that sciatica is a complex condition with many contributing factors.
The root cause of nearly all types of sciatica, which has been proven time and again in the best research, is that the body has developed compensation patterns in order to protect itself. These patterns get hardwired into the brain, and they continue to persist until they are fixed. These patterns are what eventually cause the pain to return again and again even after treatment to the joints, muscles and nerves.
The pattern is what LEADS to the tight muscles. Then the tight muscles cause the joints to become stiff. These tight muscles and stiff joints put pressure on the discs and nerves, eventually causing enough irritation to cause sciatica.
The irony is that even surgery won’t fix the pattern in the brain, which is why you may have a friend or family member who had back surgery and it didn’t help, or pain came back years later. The only way to relieve sciatica for the long term is to correct the pattern in the brain in addition to treating the nerves, joints, and muscles. Without correcting the brain, the other treatments are temporary.
6 Common Mistakes Doctors Make When Dealing With People With Sciatica
- You might have had the experience where a doctor only seems interested in pushing pills, or injections at you, with no real answers as to why you have pain and telling you to “wait until it’s bad enough for surgery.”
- You might have had a doctor make you feel like you’re just making it all up, or that you’re a crazy hypochondriac.
- You might have been told it’s your own fault you’re not getting better.
- You might not have had your diagnosis fully explained, making you feel like something’s missing in your diagnosis, and that you must be “a special case.”
- You might have been told “you’re just getting older” and now you’re worried that your best years are behind you, not ahead of you like you thought they would be.
- You might have started worrying about losing your independence, and wondering what life will look like in 10 years if things continue to go this way.
It’s not your fault, and these things likely aren’t true. Sciatica is complicated, and often requires a specialist to correct it without surgery.
It’s normal to feel a bit lost, because most of the time, people who suffer from sciatica have already tried many different things with varying levels of success. The worst part about having sciatica that comes and goes is there’s almost no way for a non-specialist to make heads or tails of it.
6 Reasons Why Your Sciatica May Be Lasting Longer Than It Should
- You tried looking up exercises to do on your own. But with many “causes,” it’s difficult to figure out which exercises are right for you. This is why some exercises can seem to make it better, but some make it much worse.
- You tried a few relaxing massages and it felt good for a few days but then it came back.
- You tried chiropractic care and it eased a bit, but the nagging sensation is still there.
- You tried waiting for it to go away on its own. That didn’t work…
- You went to the doctor’s office, and they gave you pain meds or nerve medication to numb the pain. They told you to come back in 6 weeks if it didn’t work.
- You went to a physical therapist who put you on the same exercises everyone else with sciatica and back pain gets…then they left you with an assistant who only half watched your technique.
If these things sound familiar and you’re still having pain, it’s common. The issue with most of these methods is that they focus on addressing the symptoms, not the root cause. As soon as you stop doing them the pain comes back.
5 mistakes that you might be making that could cause your sciatica to last longer than it should
- Assuming all physical therapists are the same. Nothing can be further from the truth. Just because you’ve tried one PT doesn’t mean you’ve tried them all. You need to find a PT who is a specialist in sciatica, and who can clearly explain to you what’s going on and why.
- Stretching: If you’ve been stretching to fix your pain and it hasn’t worked yet, it likely won’t. More often than not, sciatica and back pain has come up because of tight muscles. Stretching is for short muscles. Tight muscles are tight because they’re compensating for a weak muscle nearby. Stretching will relieve them for a little bit, but it will come back unless the weakness is resolved.
- Crossing Your Legs: Avoid crossing your legs at all costs. This can cause stretching in the back of your hip which compresses the sciatic nerve and puts pressure on your spine. It also causes twisting in your hips and pelvis which can put stress on the nerves in your back.
- Resting: Certain activities right now might make your sciatica and back pain worse, but that doesn’t mean you should restrict all of your movements. If certain things are painful, like walking, lifting, sitting, it’s important to find the root cause so you can start moving properly and stay active. Keep doing what you can to accomplish movements with minimal pain.
- Doing the same thing over and over even though it hasn’t worked (INCLUDING DOING NOTHING). This is the definition of insanity. The next thing you know, so much time will have passed that you’ll wonder what happened to your life, and you’ll have no option left but surgery.
“What Can I Do To Get Rid Of My Sciatica For Good?”
So many of the “solutions” available only provide temporary relief because they’re not targeting the root cause. Without getting to the source of the problem, sciatica pain will continue to return because the cause was never addressed.
Marian learned this the hard way, and unfortunately, a lot of people do. After addressing the root cause, Marian says:
“I’m back to walking 3-4 miles a day; I can lift and hold my grand-babies; I can go to parties without having to sit in a corner; I can go shopping again!”
The only thing she’d change? Finding a specialist to help her address the root cause sooner.
“I could have avoided a lot of doctors’ appointments and needless and expensive treatments, not to mention losing a couple of years to my other attempts.”
6 Things You Can Do To Start Fixing Your Sciatica For Good
- The first thing to do is decide to do something about it. Once you’ve decided, make a commitment and stick to it and see it through, even if it takes you a while and you have to try a few things before something starts working.
- Stop crossing your legs, This can cause stretching in the back of your hip which compresses the sciatic nerve and puts pressure on your spine. It also causes twisting in your hips and pelvis which can put stress on the nerves in your back.
- Sleep with a pillow under your legs (back sleepers) or between your legs (side sleepers)
- Move often and avoid being in one position so long that the pain builds up.
- Do the RIGHT exercises for your type of sciatica. The right exercises given to you at the right time by a specialist Physical Therapist will help. The exercises will progress and change as you improve, which is why there’s no “one-size-fits-all” program.
- Find a specialist PT who can help you find the root cause. A “root-cause” diagnosis will tell you two things. The first thing is where your pain is coming from. The second thing is WHY it’s happening, and what patterns in the brain are leading to it. They should also be able to tell you step by step how they plan to treat you, and how they expect you will respond.
Here’s what to look for in a specialist PT
- They give you a root cause diagnosis including WHAT hurts and WHY.
- They take measurements each treatment session to determine your progress.
- They play an active role in your treatment sessions, and don’t simply hand you off to an aide or technician.
- They give you personalized exercises, not just a handout with pictures on it that everyone else with sciatica gets.
- They take the time to explain to you each treatment and exercise, and why it’s important in your overall plan.
- They take the time to set goals that are important to YOU. We’re not talking about being able to just bend forward, or stand for 10 minutes, what do you want for your LIFE?
If you’d like to apply for a “discovery session” to work with our specialists, we set aside just 10 complimentary sessions each month. Delaying any further will only guarantee you miss out on living the life you thought you would. As our client Marian had said, her #1 regret was not starting sooner, and losing years of her life to other treatments that didn’t work.
“How Can Choosing To Work With a Sciatica Specialist at The Doctors of Physical Therapy Help You?”
- Get peace of mind: Knowing that you’re addressing the root cause, and your best years are not behind you, they’re AHEAD.
- Be yourself around your family: They’ll compliment you for how much less irritable you are, and how you’re “actually pleasant to be around.” 😀
- We can give you confidence that you’ll be able to “keep going”: That you will stay healthy, active, and independent well into older age.
- We can give you Clarity: That you know what’s going on, and how you can fix it and prevent it from coming back.
- Energy to go on more adventures: To be able to say yes to going hiking, camping, golfing, you name it.
- We can help you avoid needing to take painkillers that aren’t any good for your health.
- We can help you avoid risky spinal surgery that may or may not help.
- We can help you finally get a good night’s sleep!
- Finally get mental freedom from constantly having to think about pain
Basically we help you get your old life back, free from having to deal with the thought that pain could be lurking around the corner.
How To Apply For a Discovery Session With Our Specialists
Our Discovery Session is something we offer to people who are uncertain, or skeptical about what we can do for them. If that sounds like you, please start with a free discovery session so we can answer your questions and help you feel certain you’re in the right place without any financial commitment on your part.
During Your “Discovery Session” You’ll Finally:
- Find out what the likely root cause is of your pain symptoms.
- Find out if our treatment approach can help you.
- If so, what sort of treatment program is the best fit for you?
- Why other things haven’t worked in the past?
- How long it will likely be before you start seeing positive results?
To take advantage of one of the limited spots we have available, click “Apply For A Discovery Session” below and fill out the form on the next page. From there our care coordinator will call you to discuss your needs and ensure that you’re a good fit for our specialists.
If you’ve had sciatica for any length of time, you’re familiar with how difficult it may be to do simple things like sleep comfortably, sit for long periods, or walk. You may already know that frustrating feeling of not being able to focus on anything or anyone around you fully, because you’re distracted by pain. You might have started wondering how others have gotten rid of their sciatica, and if there’s a proven way to get lasting results.
If you’ve tried to fix your sciatica only for it to keep coming back leaving you feeling like you’ve wasted time on short-term solutions, it’s because most advice targets the symptoms of sciatica, but does nothing to help the root cause.
Sciatica can affect nearly every aspect of life, and doesn’t affect anyone exactly the same way. It can be just a little tickle, or shooting stabbing nerve pain running from your hip down to your foot. There are several different causes of sciatica, and often, the diagnosis and solutions given only help for the short term. Things that help one type of sciatica, make other types of worse, and what helps one day, may not help the next. Or you might have symptoms that behave differently all the time, leaving you searching high and low for solutions that help you avoid surgeries or painkillers that often don’t work.
If you’re like most people, you try the old-school approach first. Wait for it to go away and see if it gets better. After all, maybe you just “slept wrong”…Many people try to avoid the doctors office so they raid their medicine cabinets, or look up exercises on YouTube or Google.
If this is you, you’re not alone. We hear this all the time. In fact, sciatica is one of the most common problems we see in our physical therapy clinic in Scottsdale.
One of our patients, Marian, had tried everything above on top of back surgery, unspecialized physical therapy, pain management, spinal injections, spinal electro-stimulation, acupuncture, chiropractic, and dietary analysis.
Marian told me, “When you go through this, you learn how many things you can no longer do if you can’t stand or walk.”
You don’t have to choose between surgery, and giving up the activities you love…
In the process of helping thousands of individuals with sciatica, we’ve found that sciatica is becoming more and more common because many of the solutions out there just take one area into consideration (muscles, joints, nerves, strength, etc.) The simple truth is that sciatica is a complex condition with many contributing factors.
The root cause of nearly all types of sciatica, which has been proven time and again in the best research, is that the body has developed compensation patterns in order to protect itself. These patterns get hardwired into the brain, and they continue to persist until they are fixed. These patterns are what eventually cause the pain to return again and again even after treatment to the joints, muscles and nerves.
The pattern is what LEADS to the tight muscles. Then the tight muscles cause the joints to become stiff. These tight muscles and stiff joints put pressure on the discs and nerves, eventually causing enough irritation to cause sciatica.
The irony is that even surgery won’t fix the pattern in the brain, which is why you may have a friend or family member who had back surgery and it didn’t help, or pain came back years later. The only way to relieve sciatica for the long term is to correct the pattern in the brain in addition to treating the nerves, joints, and muscles. Without correcting the brain, the other treatments are temporary.
6 Common Mistakes Doctors Make When Dealing With People With Sciatica
- You might have had the experience where a doctor only seems interested in pushing pills, or injections at you, with no real answers as to why you have pain and telling you to “wait until it’s bad enough for surgery.”
- You might have had a doctor make you feel like you’re just making it all up, or that you’re a crazy hypochondriac.
- You might have been told it’s your own fault you’re not getting better.
- You might not have had your diagnosis fully explained, making you feel like something’s missing in your diagnosis, and that you must be “a special case.”
- You might have been told “you’re just getting older” and now you’re worried that your best years are behind you, not ahead of you like you thought they would be.
- You might have started worrying about losing your independence, and wondering what life will look like in 10 years if things continue to go this way.
It’s not your fault, and these things likely aren’t true. Sciatica is complicated, and often requires a specialist to correct it without surgery.
It’s normal to feel a bit lost, because most of the time, people who suffer from sciatica have already tried many different things with varying levels of success. The worst part about having sciatica that comes and goes is there’s almost no way for a non-specialist to make heads or tails of it.
6 Reasons Why Your Sciatica May Be Lasting Longer Than It Should
- You tried looking up exercises to do on your own. But with many “causes,” it’s difficult to figure out which exercises are right for you. This is why some exercises can seem to make it better, but some make it much worse.
- You tried a few relaxing massages and it felt good for a few days but then it came back.
- You tried chiropractic care and it eased a bit, but the nagging sensation is still there.
- You tried waiting for it to go away on its own. That didn’t work…
- You went to the doctor’s office, and they gave you pain meds or nerve medication to numb the pain. They told you to come back in 6 weeks if it didn’t work.
- You went to a physical therapist who put you on the same exercises everyone else with sciatica and back pain gets…then they left you with an assistant who only half watched your technique.
If these things sound familiar and you’re still having pain, it’s common. The issue with most of these methods is that they focus on addressing the symptoms, not the root cause. As soon as you stop doing them the pain comes back.
5 mistakes that you might be making that could cause your sciatica to last longer than it should
- Assuming all physical therapists are the same. Nothing can be further from the truth. Just because you’ve tried one PT doesn’t mean you’ve tried them all. You need to find a PT who is a specialist in sciatica, and who can clearly explain to you what’s going on and why.
- Stretching: If you’ve been stretching to fix your pain and it hasn’t worked yet, it likely won’t. More often than not, sciatica and back pain has come up because of tight muscles. Stretching is for short muscles. Tight muscles are tight because they’re compensating for a weak muscle nearby. Stretching will relieve them for a little bit, but it will come back unless the weakness is resolved.
- Crossing Your Legs: Avoid crossing your legs at all costs. This can cause stretching in the back of your hip which compresses the sciatic nerve and puts pressure on your spine. It also causes twisting in your hips and pelvis which can put stress on the nerves in your back.
- Resting: Certain activities right now might make your sciatica and back pain worse, but that doesn’t mean you should restrict all of your movements. If certain things are painful, like walking, lifting, sitting, it’s important to find the root cause so you can start moving properly and stay active. Keep doing what you can to accomplish movements with minimal pain.
- Doing the same thing over and over even though it hasn’t worked (INCLUDING DOING NOTHING). This is the definition of insanity. The next thing you know, so much time will have passed that you’ll wonder what happened to your life, and you’ll have no option left but surgery.
“What Can I Do To Get Rid Of My Sciatica For Good?”
So many of the “solutions” available only provide temporary relief because they’re not targeting the root cause. Without getting to the source of the problem, sciatica pain will continue to return because the cause was never addressed.
Marian learned this the hard way, and unfortunately, a lot of people do. After addressing the root cause, Marian says:
“I’m back to walking 3-4 miles a day; I can lift and hold my grand-babies; I can go to parties without having to sit in a corner; I can go shopping again!”
The only thing she’d change? Finding a specialist to help her address the root cause sooner.
“I could have avoided a lot of doctors’ appointments and needless and expensive treatments, not to mention losing a couple of years to my other attempts.”
6 Things You Can Do To Start Fixing Your Sciatica For Good
- The first thing to do is decide to do something about it. Once you’ve decided, make a commitment and stick to it and see it through, even if it takes you a while and you have to try a few things before something starts working.
- Stop crossing your legs, This can cause stretching in the back of your hip which compresses the sciatic nerve and puts pressure on your spine. It also causes twisting in your hips and pelvis which can put stress on the nerves in your back.
- Sleep with a pillow under your legs (back sleepers) or between your legs (side sleepers)
- Move often and avoid being in one position so long that the pain builds up.
- Do the RIGHT exercises for your type of sciatica. The right exercises given to you at the right time by a specialist Physical Therapist will help. The exercises will progress and change as you improve, which is why there’s no “one-size-fits-all” program.
- Find a specialist PT who can help you find the root cause. A “root-cause” diagnosis will tell you two things. The first thing is where your pain is coming from. The second thing is WHY it’s happening, and what patterns in the brain are leading to it. They should also be able to tell you step by step how they plan to treat you, and how they expect you will respond.
Here’s what to look for in a specialist PT
- They give you a root cause diagnosis including WHAT hurts and WHY.
- They take measurements each treatment session to determine your progress.
- They play an active role in your treatment sessions, and don’t simply hand you off to an aide or technician.
- They give you personalized exercises, not just a handout with pictures on it that everyone else with sciatica gets.
- They take the time to explain to you each treatment and exercise, and why it’s important in your overall plan.
- They take the time to set goals that are important to YOU. We’re not talking about being able to just bend forward, or stand for 10 minutes, what do you want for your LIFE?
If you’d like to apply for a “discovery session” to work with our specialists, we set aside just 10 complimentary sessions each month. Delaying any further will only guarantee you miss out on living the life you thought you would. As our client Marian had said, her #1 regret was not starting sooner, and losing years of her life to other treatments that didn’t work.
“How Can Choosing To Work With a Sciatica Specialist at The Doctors of Physical Therapy Help You?”
- Get peace of mind: Knowing that you’re addressing the root cause, and your best years are not behind you, they’re AHEAD.
- Be yourself around your family: They’ll compliment you for how much less irritable you are, and how you’re “actually pleasant to be around.” 😀
- We can give you confidence that you’ll be able to “keep going”: That you will stay healthy, active, and independent well into older age.
- We can give you Clarity: That you know what’s going on, and how you can fix it and prevent it from coming back.
- Energy to go on more adventures: To be able to say yes to going hiking, camping, golfing, you name it.
- We can help you avoid needing to take painkillers that aren’t any good for your health.
- We can help you avoid risky spinal surgery that may or may not help.
- We can help you finally get a good night’s sleep!
- Finally get mental freedom from constantly having to think about pain
Basically we help you get your old life back, free from having to deal with the thought that pain could be lurking around the corner.
How To Apply For a Discovery Session With Our Specialists
Our Discovery Session is something we offer to people who are uncertain, or skeptical about what we can do for them. If that sounds like you, please start with a free discovery session so we can answer your questions and help you feel certain you’re in the right place without any financial commitment on your part.
During Your “Discovery Session” You’ll Finally:
- Find out what the likely root cause is of your pain symptoms.
- Find out if our treatment approach can help you.
- If so, what sort of treatment program is the best fit for you?
- Why other things haven’t worked in the past?
- How long it will likely be before you start seeing positive results?
To take advantage of one of the limited spots we have available, click “Apply For A Discovery Session” below and fill out the form on the next page. From there our care coordinator will call you to discuss your needs and ensure that you’re a good fit for our specialists.
Take A Few Moments To Hear What Our Clients Have To Say About DPT
Katherine: Physician’s Assistant and Mother
“I’m now happy to say that I’m pain free. I have no more shooting pain. I can get up in the morning, and I’m not stiff and uncomfortable. And I can do all my activities and keep up with my kids which is important.”
Doug: Contractor and Traveller
“The balance that this has created is phenomenal. The Change in sleeping behaviors. The release that when I am in pain I can do stuff. We’ve traveled through Switzerland, through Italy in may. And that was one of my goals, I wanted to be able to walk around Italy with my wife for her 50th birthday…”
Teri Philanthropist and Hiker
“Living pain free really makes me feel like I’m not going to… like i have quality if life to live! Like I think I had reached a point in my life and thought, ‘Okay, maybe… maybe this is it. Maybe I just start aging now.’ And I feel really good, which I haven’t felt in a long time.”
Take A Few Moments To Hear What Our Clients Have To Say About DPT
Katherine: Physician’s Assistant and Mother
“I’m now happy to say that I’m pain free. I have no more shooting pain. I can get up in the morning, and I’m not stiff and uncomfortable. And I can do all my activities and keep up with my kids which is important.”
Doug: Contractor and Traveller
“The balance that this has created is phenomenal. The Change in sleeping behaviors. The release that when I am in pain I can do stuff. We’ve traveled through Switzerland, through Italy in may. And that was one of my goals, I wanted to be able to walk around Italy with my wife for her 50th birthday…”
Teri Philanthropist and Hiker
