What is it ?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body and runs from the lower lumber and upper sacral vertebrae to the pelvis and down the thigh and back of the leg. Pain experienced along this pathway is called sciatica. This is a type of referred pain where the pain is felt in areas supplied by the nerve, rather than at the site of damage, and suggestes nerve root irritation.
Pain may be experienced in the lower back, extending down the leg. The pain can be either mild or more severe, with shooting or a burning sensation. There may be muscle weakness or numbness or tingling in the leg, foot, or toes or muscle spasms in the buttocks or leg. There may also be loss of nerve reflexes in the knee and ankles.
Causes.
The cause of sciatica are varied, but it is often the result of a prolapsed disk (slipped disk). The discs in the spine are thick, gel filled pads enclosed by a wide, fibrous ring. Pressure on, or damage to, the discs can cause them to spill out their center onto the nerve roots at the spinal cord. Depending on the severity of the pressure, there may be minor backache or extreme debilitating pain which makes walking very difficult. The pain from sciatica can run right down to the foot and there may be a loss of power in the muscle.
Sciatica can also be associated with pregnancy and childbirth. It may be the after effect of a strain caused by heavy lifting , stress, injury to the back and / or an abnormality or misposition of the sacroiliac joint. Rarely, a tumour may be pressing on the sciatic nerve and sometimes there is no obvious cause for the condition.
Orthodox treatment.
Treatment in the acute phase will be rest for a few days along with pain killers and sometimes with ant-inflammatory drug or diazepam for muscle spasms. This may be followed by physio and sometimes a corset is recommended. If there is no improvement an epidural corticosteroid injection may be recommended to reduce the pain. Surgery on the back may also be offered for patients who fail to recover.
At Acu-Care Naturopathics, I regularly treat sciatica using a combination of MET, (muscle energy technique) Bowen therapy and acupuncture.
regardless of your medically diagnosed condition natural medicine has something to offer either as a stand alone treatment or as complementary treatment along side orthodox treatment.
The Acu-Care Naturopathic clinic is suitably located for many of Perth’s suburbs and is particularly handy for; Belmont, south Perth, Vic park, Lathlain, Carlisle, Kewdale, Rivervale, Redcliffe, Burswood, and Cloverdale.
To find out more about acupuncture and how it can help you call 9478-1415 or better still make an appointment today.
Best of health
Paul Neilson