The Sciatic nerve can cause a tremendous amount of pain. It is largely characterized by pain or a burning sensation going down the leg, weakness or numbness in the leg or foot, or makes it difficult to stand or sit for long periods of time. It affects the lower back and the leg or both legs, if sciatic pain presents on both sides as opposed to one.
Sciatic pain can come from a multitude of issues. The four major conditions that create or exacerbate sciatic pain are Spondylolisthesis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, and Pregnancy. Each one of these puts pressure on the nerves in the lower back. While these are the most common conditions that sciatic pain is known for, these are not the only culprits of the discomfort.
The sciatic nerve runs through the glute muscles. The glutes consist of 20 muscles, 10 on each side. There are seven muscles that are quite deep and are responsible for rotating the femur. The sciatic nerve runs between the six deeper ones and the piriformis muscle. When the piriformis gets tense, it starts to put pressure on the sciatic nerve, which then causes pain and discomfort radiating down the leg and up into the lower back.
Massage can help alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by sciatic pain. There are multiple techniques that can help loosen those muscles. Some of them can be a little more uncomfortable, but massage for the sciatic nerve can alleviate the pain in the leg as well as up into the back. Through passive or active range of motion while applying pressure, the pathway for the sciatic nerve will open, allowing for decreased pressure on the nerve, which automatically decreases pain.
Massage Therapists:
All of our therapists are qualified and skilled to help with sciatic pain. Each therapist uses many of the same techniques.