Get Help with Sciatica Sooner Rather than Later

​Sciatica is one of the most painful conditions that I treat.  It tends not to be particularly dangerous, but it certainly causes a lot of distress.

All the more reason to address sciatica sooner rather than later.

Here’s why.

Muscles when overtaxed will contract. The same is true when there is a minor injury in the spine or lower back area. The body tenses up in an effort to protect itself from additional pain.

Sadly, this tightening causes its own problems – particularly when muscles tighten around the sciatic nerve -- the longest and widest nerve in the body. At its widest it measures about ¾ inch, about the size of a pinky finger. Composed of five nerve roots from the lower spine, it runs from the lumbar and sacral area all the way to the bottom of the foot.

When the sciatic nerve works well, it sends signals to the muscles in the legs and feet that allow for bending your knees, pointing your toes and lifting your feet. It also relays information about sensations in the legs and feet back to the brain.
 
When the sciatic nerve is compressed, it creates sensations of numbness and tingling in the legs and simple motions involved in sitting and standing become extraordinarily painful.

Not only that, but daily activities like walking and driving often make the pain worse.  And the longer things go without improvement, the longer it takes to treat the problem.

Fortunately, this is a condition that can be treated and resolved!

I see this over and over again in my clinic. Patients come in unable to sit for any length of time. Sometimes, there’s pain just getting on and off the treatment table.

All this often changes in after just a few treatments. 

Acupuncture along with some gentle stretches can do wonders for this type of pain.

I often say that muscles need to have choice. We need them to contract to lift objects, climb stairs and exercise. When these activities are completed, we want our muscles to relax as their work is no longer needed. Like the rest of us, muscles need to rest.

This concept of resting to recover is a key aspect of East Asian Medicine.  Yang, our active side, needs to be balanced by yin, our receptive and nourishing side. We’re designed to get things done during the day and rest at night.

A lot of the work I do with people in pain, is to get them to rest and relax. This happens during treatments.  Muscle tightness subsides.  It’s not uncommon for patients to fall asleep.  

Sometimes, acupuncture treatments alone are sufficient. More often, it’s acupuncture combined with gentle stretches that create lasting change. 

Not only is the pain gone, but there’s a plan in place if it should return.

So don’t put off care, if you’re starting to feel pain. Get in touch!

Or, begin doing stretches on your own.

Here’s a link with some ideas. Remember, less is more. Don’t do anything that causes pain. Stretch to just before you feel pain or a lot of tightness. Small movements, over time can make tremendous changes.

Here’s to the journey from pain to ease!