Sciatica
A line of pain that travels from your buttock down the back of your leg, sometimes a deep ache, sometimes electric, often worse when you sit. That radiating path is what people mean by sciatica.
What it is
Sciatica is a description of a symptom, not a single diagnosis: irritation along the sciatic nerve's path. Sometimes a muscle such as the piriformis or gluteus minimus is compressing or referring along the nerve; sometimes the cause is in the spine itself. Telling those apart matters, and not all leg pain is sciatica.
What makes it worse
It commonly worsens with prolonged sitting, driving, or sitting on a wallet, and with sustained bending or lifting. Some people get relief from walking or changing position frequently; the specific pattern helps locate where the nerve is being irritated.
How PNMT helps
Your therapist uses your history and specific tests to reproduce your symptoms and judge whether muscles are a contributor. If they are, precise treatment targets the compression point (often in the deep hip) with your feedback confirming the source, not heavy pressure. If testing points to nerve-root or disc involvement rather than muscle, your therapist will refer you for medical evaluation.
What to expect & how long
Assessment includes tests that recreate your leg symptoms so you and your therapist can track change session to session. Plan on at least three sessions, often four to six, when muscle is the driver. If you develop progressive weakness, numbness, or any loss of bladder or bowel control, treat that as urgent medical care, not a session to book.
What clients say
Sarah is an angel on Earth, and I mean that truly. My experience with them has been life changing. had been suffering with work related neck, shoulder, low back, hip and sciatic pain for many years (probably close to 10). I had spent the past two years being treated by various chiropractors, personal trainers and massage therapists with temporary relief, but without true improvement. After seeing a review by another patient in the dental field I was compelled to schedule an appointment with Somavida. At that time, I couldn't sit for more than 20 min without being in severe pain and I couldn't sleep for more than an hour or two without waking up in severe pain. Not only was I unable to work, but I could not even drive in to work without stopping due to pain. My daily functions were severely inhibited and I was beginning to think I would never be about to work again. At my first appointment, Sarah was so incredibly lovely and calming. After discussing with her my current diagnosis from my chiropractor, she assessed my posture, my pain, my range of motion and my working postures. Sarah is so incredibly knowledgeable and thorough that after her treatment that day I was pain-free for the first time in years. YEARS! I broke into happy tears while still on the massage table.
Sarah is amazing! She is both kind and great at helping to resolve chronic pain. My TMJ has improved so much with her care.
I've been going to soma vida for around 4-5 years. I think at this point for neuromuscular therapy. My coworker recommended it for my back pain. I mostly make appts with Yu, but I think I've had appts with everyone there atleast once. The treatment can be painful but I always come out feeling so light and so much better than before. I've had chronic neck pain from my desk job and other pain in areas that is only fixed by whatever they do here. They truly care about you and want to make sure you leave feeling better.
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Ready to Address Your Sciatica?
Book a New Client Session and your therapist will identify the source of your pain, then create a tailored treatment plan.
75-minute first visit. Two therapists assess, one treats; every follow-up is one-on-one with your therapist.
Your care isn't shaped by one therapist, the whole Somavida team is behind your treatment plan.