11/12/2025
An excellent overview of sciatica and how the various discs & nerves cause pain.
👍🏽
⚡️ Sciatica & Your Nerve Map: How L4-S1 Affects Your Body!
Sciatica is notoriously tricky because the source of the pain (a pinched nerve in your lower back) is often different from where you feel the pain (down your leg or in your foot).
➡️Here's the connection: Your lumbar nerves (L4, L5, S1) follow specific pathways (dermatomes). When irritated, the pain travels!
L4: Often affects the thigh and inner lower leg.
L5: Can cause pain in the outer leg and top of the foot.
S1: Typically causes pain in the back of the calf and outer foot.
🛑 How to Prevent & Protect Your Back:
Prevention is key!
Here are simple tips:
✅Maintain Good Posture: Sit and stand with proper alignment to reduce pressure on your spine.
✅Stay Active: Regular, low-impact exercise like walking or swimming strengthens core muscles and improves flexibility.
✅Lift Correctly: Always lift with your legs, not your back, and hold objects close to your body.
✅Manage Weight: Excess weight puts pressure on your vertebrae and discs.
✅Avoid Prolonged Sitting: Take frequent breaks to stand up and stretch.
⚠️ Important Medical Disclaimer ⚠️
If you experience sudden or severe symptoms like leg weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder/bowel control, stop reading and seek immediate medical help! These are crucial "red flag" symptoms that could indicate a severe spinal condition requiring urgent evaluation.
✨Photo credit to SASpine
Follow Physical Therapy Session for more 💛
