Sciatica
Pain that travels from your buttock down the back of your leg. Sometimes it's a deep ache, sometimes electric, and it's often worse when you sit.
What it is
Sciatica describes a symptom: irritation along the path of the sciatic nerve. It isn't one diagnosis. Sometimes a muscle such as the piriformis or gluteus minimus is compressing the nerve or referring pain along it. Sometimes the cause is in the spine. Telling these apart matters, and not all leg pain is sciatica.
What makes it worse
It often gets worse with long sitting, driving, sitting on a wallet, and sustained bending or lifting. Some people get relief from walking or changing position often. Your specific pattern helps show where the nerve is being irritated.
How PNMT helps
Your therapist uses your history and specific tests to reproduce your symptoms and judge whether muscles are contributing. If they are, precise treatment targets the compression point, often in the deep hip, with your feedback confirming the source. If testing points to the nerve root or a disc, your therapist will refer you for medical evaluation.
What to expect & how long
Tests that recreate your leg symptoms let you and your therapist track change from session to session. Plan on at least three sessions, often four to six, when muscle is the cause. If you develop worsening weakness, numbness, or any loss of bladder or bowel control, get urgent medical care. Don't wait for a session.
What clients say
Sarah is an angel on Earth, and I mean that truly. My experience with them has been life changing. had been suffering with work related neck, shoulder, low back, hip and sciatic pain for many years (probably close to 10). I had spent the past two years being treated by various chiropractors, personal trainers and massage therapists with temporary relief, but without true improvement. After seeing a review by another patient in the dental field I was compelled to schedule an appointment with Somavida. At that time, I couldn't sit for more than 20 min without being in severe pain and I couldn't sleep for more than an hour or two without waking up in severe pain. Not only was I unable to work, but I could not even drive in to work without stopping due to pain. My daily functions were severely inhibited and I was beginning to think I would never be about to work again. At my first appointment, Sarah was so incredibly lovely and calming. After discussing with her my current diagnosis from my chiropractor, she assessed my posture, my pain, my range of motion and my working postures. Sarah is so incredibly knowledgeable and thorough that after her treatment that day I was pain-free for the first time in years. YEARS! I broke into happy tears while still on the massage table.
Sarah is amazing! She is both kind and great at helping to resolve chronic pain. My TMJ has improved so much with her care.
I've been going to soma vida for around 4-5 years. I think at this point for neuromuscular therapy. My coworker recommended it for my back pain. I mostly make appts with Yu, but I think I've had appts with everyone there atleast once. The treatment can be painful but I always come out feeling so light and so much better than before. I've had chronic neck pain from my desk job and other pain in areas that is only fixed by whatever they do here. They truly care about you and want to make sure you leave feeling better.
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Get help for Sciatica
Book a New Client Session. Your therapists will find the source of your pain and build a treatment plan for you.
75-minute first visit. Two therapists assess and one treats. Every follow-up is one-on-one with your therapist.
The whole Somavida team stands behind your treatment plan.