Sciatica | Cardy Sports Clinic

Sciatica is a debilitating disorder that can often leave you with pain, numbness or tingling down the back of the leg. A common mistake is lower back pain and other pathologies being wrongly diagnosed as sciatica. In most cases of sciatica, this is due to irritation of the nerve. For some of the population the piriformis is the cause of the sciatic related symptoms, however, this is called piriformis syndrome and not sciatica.

The sciatic nerve originates from the the lumbar spine and is easily the largest nerve in the body. The pain is often worsened when bending over, twisting and coughing. In most cases there will be an inflammation of the nerve due to the something irritating the nerve, such as a bulge in the vertebral disc. I do stress, if you have any numbness in the saddle region or have some bladder dysfunction related to what you think is sciatica, then go to the hospital for once over. As this could be something more serious.

Lower back pain the cause of your sciatica?

What causes Sciatica?

Due to the origin of the sciatic nerve, a bulging or herniated lumbar disc can cause sciatica
In an older patient, spinal stenonis can cause symptoms
Spondylolisthesis, slipped disc, can also cause the nerve pain
A tumour can lead to compression of the nerve
A traumatic episode
Muscle spasm can lead to the impingement of the nerve leading to production of symptoms

Who does sciatica commonly affect?

No specific gender is affected
There is a peak incidence for sciatica in populations entering their 40’s
Rarely occurs in the population before the age of 20, unless there is a traumatic episode
Jobs that subject the person to get into awkward positions have predisposed people to sciatica

How can I alleviate my sciatic pain?

There are many ways you can help yourself when you have sciatica. Firstly, the accurate diagnosis of the cause of the sciatica needs to be identified. If it is suspected that you have a spinal pathology causing your symptoms, then you should have a scan that can determine the true cause. From here then a treatment action plan can be put in place to help you out.

Deep tissue massage to relieve muscle tension

If your pain is muscular related, a deep tissue massage will be of great benefit to you. But when you aren’t able to see someone for treatment what can you do to give you comfort and reduce the pain you are feeling. Heres a few tips that you can do to relieve the symptoms when they arise.

Use hot or cold packs to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
Gentle stretches of hamstrings and muscles in the lumbar region
Correct lifting techniques
Try to avoid prolonged sitting
Core activation exercises can be beneficial too

Exercises that can get rid of my sciatica?

Surgery for my Sciatica?

Surgery is the absolute last case scenario for sciatica and should only be thought about when all possible conservative treatments have been exhausted. This would be to treat the cause of the disorder. If you have a disc herniation then the surgery would remove this to reduce the compression on the nerve. There are many others that can be completed but this relates to the alternative pathology that causes the sciatica. Ultimately, not all surgery works, with many patients still complaining of pain and discomfort many months following surgery. Conservative treatment, when correctly directed can produce the better outcomes in a short time frame.

Do you suffer with sciatica type symptoms, book in so we can get you back to your lives pain free.

What could my glute pain be?

Piriformis syndrome is one of the most common causes of glute pain in the current population. However, this could be a whole multitude of things and needs to be accurately diagnosed by a professional. The pain could be anything from a spinal pathology, an inflamed bursa or tendinopathy, to a name a few. By performing specific tests the healthcare professional can determine the cause of the pain and put together an action plan to fix this.

What is the piriformis muscle?

The piriformis muscle is a deep lying flat muscle located in the gluteal region. It originates from the sacrum, bottom end of the spine, and attaches into the greater trochanter (the bump on the outside of the upper leg). This muscles aids with a few movements. When in standing the muscle will laterally rotate the hip, abduct the leg when the hip is in a flexed position; whilst it also aids the pelvis tilt.

What can I do to alleviate this pain in my piriformis?

Ultimately, the main aim should be to release the muscle. The easiest and best way for this to take place is by booking in for a treatment. Going through the process of seeing a healthcare professional will make sure the true reason of your pain can be determined. In the mean time, you can use hot/cold packs for pain relief and to reduce the inflammation on the sciatic nerve. Then following this initial bout of pain relief, there should be stretching and strengthening exercises implemented. However, this should only be done following consultation with a professional, so that it is specific to your problem.

How can I release the piriformis without having a treatment?

Following your consultation, you will have several exercises to complete. These exercises will target the direct cause and prevent it from occurring again. Below we have chosen three products that can help you. By placing the trigger point balls into the piriformis and applying some pressure you can release the tight tissue beneath, in this case the piriformis. The 3rd product on the list is a bargain, getting 4 products that can assist not only in the release of the piriformis but help complete the stretching and strengthening exercises.

Tag Archives: Sciatica

Sciatica And Its Affect It Has On You