Back Pain vs. Sciatica: Exploring the Distinction

Back Pain vs. Sciatica: Exploring the Distinction

If you’re dealing with pain in your back and lower extremities, you may have been told you’re suffering from sciatica. But are you really?

People often conflate lower back pain and sciatica, and if you’re in intense pain, you probably don’t care much about what it’s called–you just want relief! But in reality, understanding the type of pain and why you’re experiencing it is crucial in finding a lasting, long-term solution.

Today, we want to share two ProTailored Physical Therapy patient stories with you. One patient (we’ll call him Frank) suffered from sciatica. Another patient (we’ll call her Laura) had back pain. By looking at these two stories, we hope you can better understand why distinguishing between back pain and sciatica is so important.

Frank’s Story: A True Case of Sciatica

Frank visited us because his pain was unbearable. He was experiencing it throughout the lower half of his body: in his lower back, through his buttocks, and all the way down to his foot. But it wasn’t just pain. Frank also experienced numbness and tingling throughout his leg, which only alarmed him further.

After learning Frank’s symptoms, we suspected sciatica–true sciatica. Why? A couple of reasons:

The numbness and tingling indicated a nerve issue
The symptoms follow along the path of the sciatic nerve, from which the condition takes its name

The next step was determining why. Sciatica isn’t a condition in and of itself but rather a sign that something is impacting the sciatic nerve. After a comprehensive evaluation, including several movement screens, we determined Frank’s sciatica stemmed from a herniated disc in his lower back.

Herniated discs occur when one of the intervertebral discs in the spine bulges or, in rare cases, ruptures. If it irritates the sciatic nerve (the root of which is located in the lower back), it will cause sciatica. In fact, most people with sciatica develop it due to a herniated disc.

Now that we knew the source of Frank’s pain, we were able to create a custom treatment program to strengthen his back and core, helping to relieve pressure on his sciatic nerve as his herniated disc healed.

Laura’s Story: No Sciatica Detected

Laura visited us after her doctor told her she had developed sciatica. She was dealing with intense lower back pain that severely restricted the mobility in her back, making it difficult for her to walk. Sometimes, the pain spread down into her buttocks, too, although it never made it to her legs.

For this reason, we knew it was unlikely Laura had sciatica. Because sciatica affects the sciatic nerve, it always causes radiating pain throughout the lower extremities. She also wasn’t experiencing any signs of a nerve disorder.

However, there was no doubt that Laura was in pain and needed relief! We conducted an in-depth assessment to find out what might be going on. When we took Laura’s health history, we learned that the pain started after she rearranged some heavy furniture in her house. Some additional movement screens confirmed what we suspected: Laura had strained her back muscles.

A strain occurs when the tissue fibers in your muscles or tendons tear. Sometimes, those tears are microscopic but painful nonetheless. Laura’s injury was not only painful but also impacted her movement and posture.

Fortunately, a mild to moderate muscle strain can usually resolve with physical therapy. We developed a customized treatment plan to help her manage pain and improve her range of motion. As she improved, we began incorporating strengthening exercises.

Personalized Treatment Plans, No Matter the Cause

Although Laura and Frank had two different injuries with different symptoms, their treatment plans looked fairly similar. That’s because physical activity is one of the best ways to resolve sciatica and lower back pain.

We put so much emphasis on identifying the source of your pain so we can develop the right treatment plan for your needs. We offer several techniques to help manage pain and rehabilitate a musculoskeletal injury, such as manual therapy, tailored exercises, and functional training.

At ProTailored Physical Therapy, we want to help you live a healthy, happy life–and that starts with resolving any pain and discomfort that might be holding you back. If you’re dealing with persistent pain in your back, your legs, or anywhere else, call us to schedule an assessment today. Our physical therapists are on the case!

Therapist Spotlight:

Lindsay Hubert,
Office Manager

Favorite way to spend a day off?

Sleep in and have a fancy coffee then do some reading or crocheting and go for a long walk.

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

Feeling Good – Michael Buble

Favorite local spots?

Love the zoo, the trails (Chain o’ Lakes hiking and boating are fun), and Zestos.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Caution! Slip Hazard!

Back Pain or Nerve Pain?

Ready to feel your best again? Come back to ProTailored Physical Therapy and let us help you achieve your wellness goals — book your appointment today!

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This Sun-Dried Tomato Focaccia Turkey Sandwich is a perfect balance of savory, fresh, and satisfying, with rich sun-dried tomatoes and tender turkey layered on soft, flavorful focaccia. It’s an easy yet elevated option for lunch that feels both hearty and refreshingly light.

Enjoy This Healthy Recipe!

Sun-Dried Tomato Focaccia
Turkey Sandwich

1 loaf of sun-dried tomato focaccia
one 7-ounce package deli turkey
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
one handful of greens – sprouts, microgreens, spinach, etc.
a few pieces of thinly sliced red onion
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup pesto

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Toast the focaccia in the oven for 5-8 minutes. Mix the pesto and the mayo together in a small bowl to make a pesto mayo. Keeping the bread flat on a cutting board, turn your serrated knife sideways and slice horizontally through the center of the loaf. (You don’t want to flip the top and lose those yummy crumbles.) Keeping the top piece flat, set it aside. Layer the sandwich with pesto mayo, turkey, tomato, greens, red onion, and finish with dollops of pesto mayo. Dollop the top layer of pesto mayo directly on top of the greens and onions so you don’t have to flip the top piece upside down to spread it on the bread. Gently press your top piece back on top of the sandwich. When it’s nice and secure, use a large knife to cut through the sandwich. Cut it down the middle and across 3 times for a total of 6 pieces. Serve and enjoy! This is sandwich goals.

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Exercise of the Month

SEATED SCIATIC NERVE TENSIONER

Sit in a chair with one foot flat on the ground and the foot on the side you want to work flexed with your toes pointing towards your face. Lift one lower leg by lightly contracting the upper thigh while simultaneously lowering your head, slowly tucking your chin towards your chest and exhaling. Slowly return to start.

3 Sets, 10 Reps. (Materials needed: chair)

Prepare To Swim In The Water Safely!

Swimming is a great recreational sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. But it’s important to know how to be safe while you’re in the water. These important swimming safety tips are what you should be aware of before you head out to the pool or beach.

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.

• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.

• If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.

• Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.

• Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.

Our Patients Get Great Results

“I truly love ProTailored. The staff are absolutely amazing, and everyone there is so welcoming. I especially appreciate the one-on-one attention they give. Right now, I’ve actually got two cases currently open. What’s really impressive is that they really seem to focus on addressing exactly what I need. They really go the extra mile, especially when something else is also causing me significant discomfort. I’ve actually received exercises from them specifically for a different area of my body that falls outside of the scope of the cases themselves.”

– Catherine P.

Refer a Friend

Our purpose at ProTailored Physical Therapy is to leave a greater impact on the community around us. In order to achieve our goal we want to change as many lives as possible as we become a beacon of positivity in our community.

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