SELF TESTING FOR SCIATICA AFTER CAR ACCIDENT
How to check if you have Sciatica before you see an AllCare Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, 11229 Specialist...
..We at Allcare Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, NY are here to talk about something that’s been on a lot of people’s minds lately: car accidents. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to be aware of the possibility of developing sciatica.
I’m going to show you how to test for sciatica and what you can do if you think you might have it.
Here’s a 30-second self-test series to determine which 30 second self-test will help you with your lower back pain, so pay attention!
If you’re between the ages of 15 to 47 years old, or below the age of 50, try this one.
If you’re having lower back pain that comes across here sometimes into your buttock on one side, maybe passing down your leg…
Take your hands and place it on your buttocks like this…
I’m going to show you on the side, and lean back as far as you can…
Even though you may feel stiffness, restriction, or more pain, here, in your lower back, as long as the pain moves away from your leg, into your buttock, higher up, into your back, across your back, as you repeat it…
If that makes the pain go away, then that is most likely being caused by either a disc, or you may have a muscular imbalance in your lower back. The last one I showed you was for someone that’s below the age of 50 or up… to the age of 50…
that’s having pain in one leg…
maybe traveling down their leg and into their foot.
Now… if you’re between the ages of 65 and upwards… most likely your pain may be in both thighs, down your buttocks, all the way into your calves, and you may feel a squeezing tight feeling when you’re walking in the street, or you feel like you need to kind of lean over, like walking with a shopping cart…
…this may be very helpful for you to try to see if you may be having the signs and symptoms of what they call Lumbar Stenosis or Arthritis…
This exercise assessment, or self-test, is completely different, so spread your feet apart like this, take your hands, put them behind your calves…
…and grab the back of your calves, sliding all the way down, curling your body all the way down like that…
Repeat that several times.
If you feel relief in your buttock, here, or in your calves as you’re walking… and you feel better when you do this…
You most likely have what they call stenosis of the back…
and the treatment will be completely different than someone who gets Relief by going backwards.
What is Stenosis of the Lower Back?
Stenosis of the lower back is a condition where there is narrowing or tightening of the spinal canal in the lumbar region (lower back).
It often occurs due to age-related wear and tear on the spine, trauma, tumors, infection or congenital problems.
Symptoms can include pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in the legs, difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time, and loss of bladder or bowel control.
Treatment usually involves physical therapy, medications and sometimes surgery.
If you cannot get in to see a licensed physical therapist at
AllCare Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, NY, 11229 right away,
here are some interim things you can try to continue to make progress...
1. Do exercises to relieve pain and strengthen the area around the sciatica nerve.
Exercises that focus on stretching and strengthening muscles in the lower back and legs can help reduce tension in the sciatica nerve.
2. Apply ice to the affected area.
Applying ice to the affected area can also help to reduce pain and inflammation. Ice should be applied for 15-20 minutes at a time, and it can be done several times per day as needed.
3. Take over-the-counter pain medication.
If you are experiencing pain from sciatica, over-the-counter pain medication can be helpful in managing your symptoms. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are both effective in relieving pain, and they can be taken together if necessary.
4. Avoid activities that make the pain worse.
It is important to avoid activities that make the sciatica pain worse, such as sitting for long periods of time or standing for too long.
If possible, take breaks throughout the day to walk around and stretch your legs.
No one wants to get into a car accident, but if it happens, you want to make sure you’re doing everything possible to recover.
For many people, that means physical therapy. But not all physical therapists are created equal.
It’s important that you find one who is qualified and has experience with cases like yours.
Otherwise, you could end up delaying your recovery or making it worse. So if physical therapy is your only path to recovery after a car accident, make sure you choose the right treatment plan with the right therapist.
