Sciatica & Nerve Pain
Sciatica Treatment in Orlando, FL
That sharp, burning pain running down your leg has a cause. Physical therapy finds it and fixes it — without drugs or surgery in most cases.
Request an AppointmentWhat Is Sciatica
Sciatica is not a diagnosis — it is a symptom. It describes pain, numbness, or tingling that travels from the lower back through the hip and down the leg, following the path of the sciatic nerve.
The nerve is being irritated or compressed somewhere along its path. Finding exactly where — and why — is what determines the right treatment.
The most common causes are a herniated disc pressing on the nerve root, piriformis syndrome where the muscle compresses the nerve in the hip, or spinal stenosis narrowing the canal the nerve passes through. Each responds to a different approach. Treating them the same way is why so many sciatica patients stay in pain.
Common Causes of Sciatica We Treat
Herniated Disc
Disc material pressing on a lumbar nerve root, causing radiating pain, numbness, or weakness down the leg.
Piriformis Syndrome
The piriformis muscle in the hip compresses the sciatic nerve, mimicking disc-related sciatica but requiring different treatment.
Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses nerve roots, causing pain that worsens with standing or walking.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Age-related disc changes that reduce disc height and increase nerve irritation in the lumbar spine.
Spondylolisthesis
A vertebra slipping forward on the one below it, narrowing the nerve canal and causing radicular symptoms.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
SI joint irritation that can mimic sciatic nerve pain, particularly in the buttock and upper leg.
How Physical Therapy Treats Sciatica
Treatment depends entirely on the cause. That is why the evaluation comes first.
Your therapist identifies the source of nerve irritation, then builds a plan around reducing that irritation and correcting whatever is causing it — whether that is disc mechanics, muscle tightness, joint position, or movement patterns that keep loading the nerve.
Neural Mobilization
Gentle nerve gliding techniques that reduce nerve sensitivity and restore normal movement.
Manual Therapy
Joint mobilization and soft tissue work targeting the source of nerve compression.
Core & Hip Strengthening
Building the stability that takes pressure off the lumbar spine and sciatic nerve.
Postural & Movement Correction
Identifying and changing the daily habits and movement patterns that keep the nerve irritated.
What to Expect
- 01
Nerve Assessment
Precise evaluation to identify the source and level of nerve irritation — not just where it hurts.
- 02
Your Plan of Care
A targeted plan based on your specific cause, not a generic sciatica protocol.
- 03
One-on-One Treatment
Same therapist every session. Consistent attention to how your symptoms are responding.
- 04
Full Resolution
The goal is not pain management. It is eliminating the source of nerve irritation.
"Paul is the best physical therapist I have ever worked with. He becomes a partner in helping you maximize your quality of life."
Why Patients Choose FYZICAL Therapy Orlando for Sciatica
Sciatica patients often arrive after months of failed treatment — pain medication that masked symptoms, injections that wore off, or generic exercises that made things worse.
The difference here is the evaluation. Your therapist identifies the actual source of nerve irritation before starting treatment. That specificity is what produces lasting results.
Common Questions About Sciatica Treatment
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