Characterized by irritation of the sciatic nerve in the lower back (or lumbar spine) region, sciatica “usually feels like a deep throbbing pain that radiates from the back or buttocks,” said physical therapist Chris DeRosa. DeRosa, who is a co-owner of Los Angeles-based Davis and DeRosa Physical Therapy, specializes in lower back pain and sciatica, among other issues.
Sciatica-related pain often continues down the leg and can travel as far as one’s toes, DeRosa noted and may be accompanied by numbness or tingling.
According to DeRosa, because these symptoms are typically (though not always) muscular in origin, targeted exercises and physical therapy can be immensely helpful in improving sciatica and even resolving the condition completely.
“Sciatica is 100% treatable in most cases, and your physical therapist is your best line of defense,” DeRosa said. “Especially when symptoms first arise.”
