How long does sciatica last?

Sciatica is a type of lower back pain that stems along the sciatic nerve from the lower back into one of your legs. The pain travels through the hips and can continue downward into the rest of your leg. Although sciatica can affect both legs at the same time, it usually only affects one leg.

Sciatica affects everyone differently. Some people may experience sciatica pain for a couple of days. Others may experience it for weeks, and it recurs frequently throughout the year. The length of time sciatica affects you depends on its cause, which is different in each person.

What causes sciatica?

The main cause of sciatica is some form of pressure or irritation on the sciatic nerve running through your lower back. There are several reasons pressure or irritation can affect the sciatic nerve, including:

• Poor posture — Sitting too long or with poor posture puts pressure on the lower back that can cause inflammation. This inflammation can put pressure on the spine, which leads to sciatica and other issues. 
• Spinal stenosis — The nerves in the spine run through the spinal column. Spinal stenosis can cause the spinal column to grow more narrow, which puts pressure on the nerves. When this happens in your lower back, sciatica can develop. 
• Spondylolisthesis — One of the vertebrates in your lower spine can slip out of place, which can cause sciatica. This is usually the result of a fracture or a spinal defect.

Visit SSOR for sciatica treatment

Whether you have experienced short-term sciatica pain or suffer from chronic sciatica, you can benefit from physical therapy. Our physical therapists at SSOR can help you reduce sciatica pain without the need for surgery or drugs. With our treatments, you can live with less pain and more range of motion. Contact us today to learn more about physical therapy for sciatica or to schedule an appointment.