One of the most painful things you may experience is sciatica or sciatic nerve inflammation. Sciatica is a nerve pain caused by sciatic nerve irritation. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, starting with the pelvis that passes through the buttocks, things and the back of the leg and ends at the sole of the foot. Characteristic is that sciatica affects only one side of the body or only one leg.
This condition causes your back pain to go up to your leg and it can be very scary.
The Hidden Cause
In many cases, the cause of sciatic pain is actually a tense or misaligned muscle.
The piriformis muscle extends from the front of the sacrum through the pelvic cavity to join the upper part of the femur and covers part of the sciatic nerve. Because it is woven through bone and other muscles, it can be overlooked when you are diagnosed with sciatica.
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle tightens the sciatic nerve and other nerves of the buttocks. A competent massage therapist, chiropractor or osteopath is aware that a misaligned piriform can cause many types of pain in the lower back and extremities.
If the cause of your back pain is due to the piriformis instead of a herniated disc, consider yourself lucky: it can be treated without surgery, physiotherapy or medication.
How to Treat Sciatica Pain
The muscles are destined to move, the piriformis is not an exception.
Stretching works wonders to release constriction and tension, which reduces inflammation and/or misalignment, and so relieves nerve pain. Here are two exercises that target to piriformis:
1. Lie on your back with your legs flat. Pull the affected leg towards the chest, holding the left knee with your left hand and holding the ankle with your other hand. Ankle-directed, pull the knee to the opposite leg until you feel it stretch slightly, do not force your ankle or knee beyond stretching. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly return to the starting position. Repeat three times.
2. Lie on the floor with your affected leg crossed over your other leg on your knees and both legs flexed. Gently pull the lower knee to the shoulder on the same side of the body until you feel the stretch. Stay stretched for 30 seconds, then slowly return to the starting position. Repeat three times.
Non-invasive Treatments
1. The devil’s claw is a plant native to southern Africa, named after the small hooks that cover its fruits. The roots and tubers of the plant are used as an anti-inflammatory analgesic and are very effective against arthritis, headaches and back pain.
Devil’s Claw can be found in health food stores in capsule form or as a powder. However, people who suffer from peptic ulcers or who are taking anticoagulant medications should avoid this herb.
2. Alternating cold and warm compresses can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. A bag of ice attached to the affected area, followed by a heating pad, and then replaced by pack ice, will improve blood flow to the area and loosen tense muscles.
3. St. John’s wort is an herb known for its ability to relieve pain when applied topically. Most grocery stores and natural foods carry this popular herb because it is also a natural antidepressant. An infusion of oil in the pain area can relieve pain quickly.
4. Trigger point therapy is a modality used by professional masseurs for the release of muscle constriction. It may be a little uncomfortable for the therapist to get to the piriformis because of its location in the pelvis, but the pain relief is worth it.
A combination of massage and stretching therapy can replace the piriformis in place, reducing pressure on the sciatic nerve and relieving pain. Other useful treatment options include chiropractic care, acupuncture, and yoga therapy.
Gentle pressure is needed when working with sciatica; Anyone who has experienced compression pain from the sciatic nerve will tell you that sudden or rough movement will instigate shooting pain.. A combination of the above strategies can work better to provide long-term relief.
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