Back Pain & Sciatica Relief

David Taylor

Great service and staff, my RMT Justin was thorough and professional. I went in with significant lower back pain, but after one session I noticed immediate relief. I will definitely go back.

Alisha ali

I really can't say enough good things about Raynen Therapies - between Soni and Javin (my two physiotherapists) I've gone from barely able to move with a walker to walking without a cane in just a few months. The whole family is always greeted with a smile, and it's always a blast when we visit.

Julia Hejazi

After having chronic lower back pain for months and seeking physio and chiropractic treatments at other clinics that resulted in no pain relief, I had lost hope and relied heavily on medication. One day I woke up and could barely move. Since I've come here, I have had 2 physiotherapists and 1 massage therapist from Raynen therapies give me treatments over the past couple months, and to my surprise, they have helped bring my pain level down to 0, and have helped my body gain strength in areas that needed it.

Koleen Tanguilig

I came for a massage for my mid-back with Kemba and it was amazing! She really targeted my painful areas and helped to relieve my pain. The person at the front desk was very friendly and helpful as well. Would definitely recommend this place.

Looking for relief from Back Pain or Sciatica? Get Help with Physiotherapy

Do you wake up in the morning with nagging back pain? Are you feeling achy pain into your back, buttocks, or even thigh? Are you having to watch what you do, because you are afraid you may throw out your back?

Back pain and sciatica differ but are often related. Back problems often cause Sciatica.. Back is specific to the upper, middle or lower back. Sciatica is a more diffuse, radiating pain down the buttock, thigh, and even leg. It is also possible to have radiculopathy, which is a radiating numbness, tingling, burning, or sharp pain to a specific part of the leg. This is often associated with a herniated disc, or entrapment of the nerve of that area, as it exits the spine.

If you’re searching for back pain relief or sciatica relief,  know that physiotherapy should be your first treatment of choice. It minimizes your need for harmful painkilling drugs, such as opioids, and possibly will help you to avoid an invasive surgical procedure in the future.

How did my back pain or sciatica occur?

General back pain typically develops as the result of an injury. This can be due to repetitive straining motions, such as leaning down multiple times throughout the day to pick up a toddler, or a more serious, sudden trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident. 

Underlying conditions, such as herniated discs, can also cause immense pain, and cause radiculopathy pain to the thigh, leg, or foot. Degenerative disc disease is a common condition that presents itself as we age, which can result in back pain. Those with this condition typically report dull, aching pains in their lower back, and have difficulty with prolonged standing or walking. 

Sciatica’s technical name is “lumbar radiculopathy.” People who develop this condition are generally between the ages of 30 and 50. Many different types of injuries can cause the development of sciatica, including arthritis, bone spurs, or any other injury that impacts the sciatic nerve. Most commonly, we find that people lose their flexibility in the hips and pelvis, which causes the gluteus and hip muscles to become tightened. This is turn, alters the mechanics of the spine, and causes compression to the sciatic nerve as it travels through these tissues. 

How can I tell the difference between back pain and sciatica?

Back pain

“Back pain” is a term that can be caused by an array of different conditions. For example, you may experience back pain due to poor posture, a motor vehicle accident, or a lifting injury. The treatment plan that our Scarborough, ON physiotherapist sets up for you, will depend on how you developed the back pain, in addition to its exact location and your past medical history. 

Back pain can be described as acute, meaning it is short-term, or chronic, meaning it is long-term (typically lasting for three months or longer). 

Sciatica

Sciatica is a specific type of back pain that is reported as being highly uncomfortable. However, it is also fortunately very simple to diagnose. People with sciatica experience pain along their sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in your body. 

The sciatic nerve begins at your lower back and then splits at the base of your spine to extend further down to your buttocks, legs, and finally to the bottom of each foot. The sciatic nerve can become compressed or irritated, which causes a “shooting,” “stinging,” or “burning” sensation in your lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet.

Relieve your back pain or sciatica today:

For most people, back pain will come and go. However, what many people don’t realize, is that the underlying problem of poor joint movement, core weakness, and poor muscle coordination, will set them up for a future back injury, which can be significantly worse. 

Back pain and sciatica are both completely treatable through physiotherapy. Our Scarborough, ON physiotherapist creates a specific treatment plan for you that is dependent upon your diagnosis. The early stages of your physiotherapy treatment focuses on quick pain relief.

As your pain reduces, our physiotherapist will expand on strengthening your core muscle group with specific therapeutic exercises and stretches. The goal here is to increase your strength and range of motion to prevent re-injury of your spine. Finally, we teach you ergonomics and ways to make sure you know how to take care of your spine, avoiding future problems.

If you are suffering from sciatica, our physiotherapists will implement specific leg stretches into your treatment plan to loosen the sciatic nerve. This restores the natural health of the nerve and quickly reduces symptoms. 

If you are experiencing back pain or sciatica, request an appointment with one of our specialists at Raynen Therapies at Scarborough, ON. No matter how severe the pain may be, we will help you get on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.