Sharp, shooting pain in your back or down your legs? Tingling feet? It could be sciatica. More than 3 million people in the U.S. suffer from sciatic pain each year. Here’s how to get relief.
What is Sciatica?
If you’ve ever experienced any sort of back pain, you’re not alone. In fact, about 85% of Americans experience some type of back pain within their lifetime. But, if you’ve been diagnosed with sciatica and its signature radiating, shooting pain through your hip and down your leg, you know that it’s no picnic.
The sciatic nerve is comprised of 5 nerve roots from the lower spine and joint to create the largest nerve in the human body. This nerve runs on each side of the lumbar spine, deep through your buttocks, down the back of your leg, and ending in your foot.
Typically, you are diagnosed with Sciatica when pain is felt along the sciatic nerve.
Many different things can cause sciatica, but the most common cause is nerve compression in your lower back. A variety of lower back problems, like a herniated disc, can lead to sciatic nerve pain – be sure to see a specialist to determine what is causing yours.
Symptoms Of Sciatica
- Radiating pain in your lower back
- Shooting pain down the back of your thighs and legs
- Numbness, tingling, burning, or prickling feeling in your legs or feet
- Muscle weakness in one or both legs
Pain from Sciatica can range from a dull ache to a sharp, searing pain that radiates into your lower back and down your legs. It is often worse when standing or sitting still, especially for extended periods of time. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your primary care physician or book an appointment at Narayan Wellness to make sure that what you are feeling is actually sciatica nerve pain.
How To Treat Sciatica
No sciatic nerve pain is exactly the same, which means finding the best way to treat it can seem daunting. The most common treatments for sciatica are chiropractic care and massage therapy. Our partner chiropractor, Dr. Spuller, will be able to tell if a herniated disc causes your sciatic pain. Our massage therapist will educate you on stretching (the most important part of recovery) and perform trigger point massage on your sciatic nerve and surrounding muscles to release some of the tension.
We’d like to give a special thanks to paleohacks.com for this great infographic showing some of the best stretches you can try today and hopefully start seeing relief from your sciatica pain.
Benefits Of Massage For Sciatic Pain
Did you know that studies show about 54% of healthcare providers recommend massage therapy as part of their patient’s sciatica treatment plan?
Massage can improve circulation, relieve muscle tension, ease pain, and increase endorphin levels that trigger a positive feeling and relief of pain within your body.
An experienced massage therapist who specializes in sciatica, like those at Narayan Wellness, will work on your quadrates lumborum, psoas, glutes, piriformis, and hamstring muscles to relieve tension and decrease your specific sciatica symptoms.
Remember, though, when you get a sciatica massage, Staying hydrated after your massage is very important.
Conclusion
Sciatica can be painful, but all hope is not lost. With the proper exercises, stretching techniques, making a few small adjustments to your daily routine (i.e., stretching, using hot or cold packs, proper exercises), and getting regular massage treatments, your sciatic pain will decrease, your mobility will return, and you’ll start feeling better before you know it.
