IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR PAIN IN YOUR THIGHS?
Mark is passionate about sharing what he learns in all things pediatric with parents and patients. He is certified in Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based model (DIRFloortime-Basic) and has training in reflexology through Rhythmic Movement Training International (RMTi). He blends reflexology techniques and child-led methodologies into most of his treatment sessions. As a father of two pre-Kindergarten children and a baby boy expected May of 2018, he enjoys practicing these methods and other pediatric techniques on his children during the evening and weekend hours. He is grateful to work in a healthcare setting that empowers others to participate in family, school, and community activities. When Mark is not in the clinic, you can find him activating his senses (touch, smell, taste, hearing, seeing) by tinkering in his shop, barbecuing, enjoying the outdoors, and gardening. He enjoys initiating the powerful (vestibular and proprioceptive) senses by hiking, snow-skiing, and riding a bike with his daughter. He is looking forward to building a tree house and other backyard activities this summer. Staff Spotlight Mark Swain, MOTR/L, Occupational Therapist Irritation of the nerve root in the spine gives a quite different pain, which is sharp and specific to an area of your leg. Nerve root pain usually radiates to the foot or toes. Patients often describe the pain with sensations such as pins and needles or numbness. It usually affects one leg only and is greater than the pain one has in the back. Nerve root pain is much less common than referred leg pain. Furthermore, if you have back pain alone and no leg pain or nerve symptoms, a nerve root problem is very unlikely. If you do have leg pain, then your legs should be examined by a physical therapist for signs of nerve irritation or nerve compression. synergyspokane.com One of the most common mistakes is to assume that all leg pain is sciatica, and must be due to a disc in the back pressing on a nerve. In fact, most leg pain is not pain from the nerve in your spine, and has nothing to do with a herniated disc. There is much confusion about the term sciatica. The term sciatica is defined as pain running down the leg in the path of the sciatic nerve. It is best to understand the difference between referred leg pain, which “refers” from another area, and nerve root pain, which begins in the spine. In referred pain, irritation of any of the tissues of the back can cause pain down one or both legs. Seventy percent of patients with back pain have some radiating pain to their legs. This referred pain can come from the tissues, muscles, ligaments, joints, discs, or other back structures. It is usually a dull ache that spreads into the buttocks and thighs. It may affect both legs; however, it usually does not go much below the knee. Referred pain is not due to anything pressing on a nerve, and it is not sciatica.
Diagnosing nerve irritation depends on tests that stretch or press on an irritated nerve root to cause pain. Our physical therapists at Synergy Healthcare perform different tests for nerve irritation. A common test is raising the leg straight in the air and looking for radiating pain with limitation. Discover how our therapy transforms your back pain from a pressing problem to a distant memory, allowing you to live a happy, active, and pain-free life.
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