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Low back pain and sciatica treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Most low back pain and sciatica is not caused by serious damage and gets better with the right plan. Stiff joints, irritated nerves, discs that need calming down and a back that has lost strength are the usual reasons. Gentle movement, hands on care and a steady return to strength help most people get back to sitting, sleeping and lifting comfortably.
On this page
What usually causes low back pain and sciatica
Back pain can feel scary, especially when it shoots down a leg. Most of the time it follows a few common patterns.
- Muscle and joint strain
- The classic tweak from lifting, yard work or a long drive. Painful, but it usually settles quickly with the right movement.
- Disc irritation
- Pain that is worse with sitting and bending, and sometimes travels into the buttock or leg.
- Sciatica
- An irritated nerve that sends pain, tingling or numbness down the back of the leg.
- Stiffness and arthritis
- A back that is stiff in the morning and takes a while to warm up.
- A back that has lost strength
- Months of guarding and avoiding movement leave the back and hips weaker, which keeps the pain going.
When to get it checked
Get checked if the pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks, keeps coming back, travels down your leg, or is stopping you from sleeping or working. Go to a doctor or the emergency room right away if you have new numbness in the groin area, trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, weakness that is getting worse, or back pain with a fever.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Keep moving gently
- Short walks through the day usually help more than lying down.
- Change positions often
- Sitting still for a long time is hard on an irritated back. Get up every 30 minutes if you can.
- Find a position of relief
- Lying on your back with your knees bent or your legs up on a chair often takes the edge off.
How we treat back pain at Whole Health Solutions
Your physical therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish. We look at how your back, hips and core work together, find what is driving the pain, and build a plan you can stick with.
01
Relieve
Hands on care, dry needling when it fits, and movement that calms the nerve and the back down.
02
Rebuild
Strength for the core, hips and back so lifting, bending and sitting stop being a problem.
03
Perform
Back to work, the gym, golf and yard work, with a plan to keep it from coming back. Our personal trainers can take over when therapy is done.
04
Thrive
Stay with the team that knows you. Check ins, training and a quick tune up whenever something new comes up, so this stays in the past.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
How dry needling can help
For low back pain and sciatica, your physical therapist may use dry needling to speed things up. They will tell you on your first visit if it is a good fit.
Dry needling
A very thin needle placed into a tight, guarded muscle helps it let go, so pain calms down and you can move and strengthen again. Always paired with hands on care and strength work.
Learn about dry needlingCommon exercises for low back pain and sciatica
These are a few of the exercises our team often uses for low back pain and sciatica. Tap one to watch.
Please read first. These are not right for everyone. If a move brings on sharp pain, numbness or tingling, stop and talk to one of our physical therapists before you keep going.
Learn from our team
Short, free videos from our clinicians on questions we hear about low back pain and sciatica all the time.
Read more from our team
Blog posts and newsletter tips from our clinicians that go with low back pain and sciatica.
Hear it from a client
Back pain stopped Hannah in the middle of a run.
Read what Hannah said
Hannah, "What made you walk in the door?" I had been dealing with back issues. When you're dealing with something that causes you pain, you kind of hit a wall, or you stop because you don't know how to do something that's not hurting, and it's discouraging. I kind of had a wake-up moment where I was doing a run, and I could not complete it because my back, I was having such pain. My mom had mentioned Peter again, and I was like, "You know what? I just need to finally make an appointment." I do not regret it for a second.
★★★★★
"I started personal training with Julia in May to help strengthen my back and ease persistent low back pain. Over the course of the last few weeks, I can confidently say that I have noticed improvement."
Talk to a physical therapist
A free call to tell us what is going on and see if we are the right fit.
Common questions about low back pain and sciatica
Is walking good for low back pain?
For most people, yes. Short, easy walks through the day are one of the best things you can do. If walking makes your back or leg pain worse, tell your physical therapist.
Can physical therapy help sciatica?
Yes. Most sciatica improves with movement that calms the nerve down and strength work that keeps it from coming back.
Do I need an MRI first?
Usually not. Most back pain does not need imaging to get better. If your symptoms suggest you need one, we will tell you and help you get to the right doctor.
Do I need a referral for back pain?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
Visit us
Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.