Back Pain and Sciatica

Discover Long-Term Relief for Back Pain and Sciatica with our Unique, Proprietary, and Simple Protocol.

At Lumina Wellness, back pain and sciatica is our specialty! We specialize in the treatment of spinal pain and dysfunctions because we are the experts. We have developed the Total Spinal Fitness System, a unique and proprietary system to resolve most spinal dysfunctions at their source. Not only do we help our patients to resolve their spinal pain and dysfunction — we travel the country teaching other Physical Therapists and Chiropractors to help their back patients.

Our system has been clinically validated by the American Physical Therapy Association. We have been approved to give credits toward Physical Therapists license renewal for attending our seminars on treating spinal dysfunctions, and have trained hundreds of Physical Therapists across the country.

You Don't Have to Live with Persistent Pain!

Back pain is the most commonly reported pain in the United States, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. One in every four Americans has experienced back pain in the last three months.

Do you ever wake up with back pain? If so, you may have sciatica. While back pain and sciatica are similar, they also have differences that are frequently misunderstood. Back pain is most commonly felt in the upper, middle, or lower back. Sciatica can cause pain to radiate down the back, buttock, thigh, and even the legs.

Whether you have back pain or sciatica, don't rely on medicines to help you mask your pain! Our Wilmington, NC physical therapists will get to the bottom of the pain you are experiencing, so they can provide long-term relief. In many cases, our treatments may even eliminate the need for potentially harmful painkillers like opioids, or invasive surgical procedures.

What is the Difference Between Back Pain and Sciatica?

What's Causing My Back Pain / Sciatica?

"Lumbar radiculopathy" is the medical term for sciatica. People who develop this condition are typically between the ages of 30 and 50. Most commonly with sciatica, people lose flexibility in the hips and pelvis, causing the hip and gluteal muscles to tighten. As a result, the spine mechanics become altered, and the sciatic nerve compresses as it travels through these tissues.

Sciatica can be caused by a variety of injuries, including arthritis, bone spurs, or any other injury to the sciatic nerve. In most cases, general back pain develops as a result of an injury — repetitive strains or sudden trauma such as a car accident.

Herniated discs and degenerative disc disease can also cause severe back pain and radiculopathy in your thigh, leg, or foot. However, your problem can be as simple as having a muscle imbalance. A very common cause of referred pain down your leg is active trigger points in the Gluteus Medius Muscle — this referred pain can mimic the radicular pain caused by nerve root impingement and is often mistaken for sciatica.

There are numerous reasons why you might be experiencing this type of pain, and the best way to find out for sure is to see a physical therapist.

How Can I Find Relief with Physical Therapy Treatments?

While both back pain and sciatica are painful and unfortunate conditions to deal with, both can be successfully treated with physical therapy. Based on your diagnosis, our Wilmington, NC physical therapists will create a personalized treatment plan for you.

To loosen the sciatic nerve, our physical therapists will recommend specific leg stretches to your treatment plan for sciatica. This quickly restores the nerve's natural health and reduces the symptoms you are experiencing.

Back pain can come and go, but it is critical to treat it as soon as you notice it! If not, it may result in poor joint movement, core weakness, and poor muscle coordination, all of which can lead to future injuries.

The initial stages of your physical therapy treatment plan will be focused on providing immediate pain relief. Following that, your physical therapist will broaden your treatment to include strengthening your core muscle group with therapeutic exercises and stretching. Your physical therapist will also teach you how to use ergonomic techniques to protect your spine while performing daily tasks.