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Low Back Pain & Sciatica-Like Symptoms
Pain may stay in the low back or travel into the buttock, hip, thigh, calf, or foot. Some clients arrive with a diagnosis; others simply know that sitting, standing, bending, driving, walking, or getting out of bed hurts.
What it may feel like
Aching across the low back, deep gluteal pain, tight hips, burning or pulling into the leg, pain aggravated by sitting or bending, or a leg that feels different from the other side.
“sciatic was irritating the heck out of me, Nichole worked her magic and provided me with some much needed relief. I believe with her knowledge of the human body definitely puts her well above anyone in her field.”Verified client review
“I found Nichole to be knowledgable, talented, experienced, helpful, and most of all successful in making my pain of sciatica and lower go away!! The tightness is completely relieved (for now) and I was able to walk my dogs, and work in my garden all morning which I haven't done in weeks!”Verified client review
What an LMT may assess
We assess the muscular and soft-tissue patterns that are within massage therapy scope and pay attention to how symptoms respond to position and movement.
Areas we may assess
Lumbar tissues, glutes, deep hip musculature, hamstrings, calves, thoracic movement, abdominal wall, diaphragm-related tissues, psoas and iliopsoas region, rectus abdominis, and related fascia when those areas appear connected to the pattern.
What changes the plan
Numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, symptoms below the knee, a recent injury, or a significant change from your usual pattern may change what we do or whether medical assessment should come first.
How Clinical Massage may fit
Clinical Massage may help when muscular guarding, trigger-point referral, soft-tissue restriction, or compensation is part of what you are feeling.
The goal
Reduce unnecessary muscular guarding, improve comfortable movement, and address the soft-tissue component of the problem. Massage does not remove a disc herniation or decompress a spinal nerve.
Why we may work somewhere other than your back
The low back shares load with the hips, pelvis, abdomen, thorax, legs, and breathing system. If another region appears to be participating, we explain why we are considering it and obtain consent before working there.
When medical evaluation comes first
Certain back and leg symptoms should not be managed as a routine muscular complaint.
Seek prompt medical evaluation
New or progressive weakness, foot drop, loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the saddle or groin region, rapidly worsening neurological symptoms, fever with severe back pain, or severe symptoms after major trauma.
Our role
If the presentation is outside massage scope or is not responding as expected, we refer rather than trying to force the problem into a massage explanation.
Not sure where to start?
Start with the concern, not the technique. Clinical Massage is booked by time; we assess first and adapt the session around what you are experiencing.