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4 QuickWays To Relieve Sciatica Pain
Sciatica is a very common condition that affects 10% of the population. Sciatica is defined as pain that follows the course of the sciatic nerve. However, many people suffer with other sciatica like symptoms including low back pain, foot pain and even numbness in the leg. These symptoms can be signs of other back problems such as mechanical low back pain or even herniated discs. How Do You Know If You Have Sciatica? • Tenderness or sharp pain into the buttock muscles • Numbness, tingling or pain that travels down the back of the thigh • Constant pain that may originate in the low back, but travels mainly down the back of the buttock, thigh, calf and even foot • Pain that feels better when lying down but worsens with standing, walking or sitting Deep Friction Massage Can Help Eliminate Sciatica Some leg pain is caused by a spasm in a deep muscle located in the buttock called the Piriformis. The Sciatic nerve runs right on top of this muscle so a spasm here can cause pain in the leg. The treatment is to put deep pressure on this muscle. Prolonged pressure will cause this muscle to relax, decreasing the pain. This massage is quite painful but you feel great after it is completed. In fact, it is not normal to feel pain with deep pressure to this muscle – only a muscle in spasm will be painful. Spinal Mobilization Gentle mobilization (or movement) of each spinal segment helps to increase mobility of the spine and relieves pain. The pain relief from this technique lasts because it is paired with the right stretching exercise. Good Advice To Avoid Constant Irritation Of The Sciatic Nerve Good advice helps the condition begin healing. For example, you should stop strengthening exercises while you are in pain. If you are having back and leg pain, doing strengthening exercises like lifting weights or doing sit-ups will make the condition worse. Strengthening exercises increase pressure in the spine and initially you want to decrease pressure in the spine so that the condition calms down. You can return to these exercises once the leg pain is gone. Gentle Exercise The right stretch is the key to relieving pain. Some people need to stretch their spinal joints, others need to stretch muscles, some people need both. Once the pain is relieved, we instruct you in a gradual strengthening program to further protect the spine. (Continued Inside)
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