Article Written By Specialist Physio, Jonny corner in response to a question from a client of his concerned about Sciatica. There’s more tips and advice to help ease back pain and sciatica, here: www.paulgoughphysio.com/back-pain
“If I’ve got back pain — Why am I getting a shooting pain down the back of my leg?”.
This is a very common symptom we see in our physio clinic.
In fact I would be extremely surprised if at least 10 people didn’t walk, (or hobble in with sever pain it causes), into the clinic each week with this very same complaint.
I myself have suffered with this discomfort and know exactly how much it can get in the way of daily activities and hobbies.
The first response to this pain by most is to go and visit the GP, pick up some medicine to ease the pain and possibly a few exercises.
For some the response is to simply rest and hope for the pain to subside.
Resting, generally for the lower back is a big “no no”!, and medicine, although it might reduce the pain at first, is unlikely to solve the underlying root cause of this discomfort.
Also do you really want to have to take tablets every single day to simply mask a problem?. Let me tell you, this is not a problem that can be swept under the carpet!.
There can be a few reasons why someone experiences a shooting/sciatic pain down the back of their leg and it is my job to identify through a thorough assessment what the cause might be.
One of the most common causes I see for this debilitating pain is due to a “slipped disc”.
Most clients I see with this problem have heard of the term, “slipped disc”, however very few understand exactly what it is and why physiotherapy is vital in ensuring a quick recovery.
Now, to understand why you need to bare with me, (ANATOMY SPOILER ALERT!!):
What is a slipped disc?:
Small fluid filled sacs (disc’s) sit between the bones in your back. I find it’s better to think of them as little jam doughnuts, (little potentially painful jam doughnuts!). There purpose is to protect the bones in your back as you move about.
As you bend forwards the discs are pinched at the front and the fluid inside the discs goes to the back. For example, Imagine if you squeeze a jam doughnut, the jam inside will move away from where you are squeezing. Now imagine if you are in a job where you are always bending forwards/leaning forwards/picking up objects.
Eventually this repetitive squeezing of the disc will cause the wall of the disc to wear down and similar to if you squeeze a jam doughnut too hard, the fluid will come out. However instead of sticky jammy fingers that can be licked clean, you have a very painful shooting sciatic sensation!! as the disc presses on the nerve (sciatic), that travels all the way down the back of your leg.
The problem if you completely rest this is that not only does the disc stay slipped, the muscles that control your lower back become weak, therefore providing less support to the already problematic area.
Physiotherapy is therefore vital and can assist in the recovery of this painful problem.
Common treatment methods I use include mobilising the joints to encourage the disc to move back forwards and off the nerves, deep tissue massage to loosen off the muscles that become very tight to protect your lower back, as well as invaluable exercise and stretching advice.
All these treatment methods are specific to you, as no two back problems are ever the same and are aimed at getting you back to what you need to and like to be able to do each day!.
Please – Don’t suffer any longer than you have too ;-(
There’s more tips and advice for sciatica here: www.paulgoughphysio.com/back-pain
Jonny Corner
Specialist Physio Clinics : Darlington – Durham – Guisborough – Hartlepool
Tel: 01429 866771
You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.
Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.
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