If you are someone that suffers from sciatica or has suffered in the past, then you would know how painful and debilitating it can become. Sciatica can make everyday movements ache and activities such as walking, sitting and bending can become very uncomfortable.
The sciatic nerve travels from your lower back through the gluteal muscles down the upper leg, through the knee, calf muscles down to your toes. The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the human body. Your brain connects with the muscles in your lower leg and feet via the sciatic nerve. The nerve controls the muscle movements and the sensations in your leg. Sciatica occurs when there is irritation or injury to the sciatic nerve.
The pain and discomfort caused by sciatica can vary from pins and needles down the leg, to weakness in the leg, to extreme pain. Most of the time sciatica will occur on only one side of the body.
What causes Sciatica?
Sciatica usually occurs as there has been damage to the lower spine which can directly affect the sciatic nerve by compressing it. This can be caused by numerous reasons.
Lumbar bulging or a herniated disc
Osteoarthritis
Bone spurs
Spondylolisthesis
Trauma
Piriformis syndrome
Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
Compression fractures
If you follow a proper treatment plan sciatica will often alleviate within 6 to 8 weeks, however the condition can continue for a lot longer. Sitting and standing for long periods of time can make the condition worse.
Remedial massage and Sciatica
If you believe you have the symptoms of sciatica, remedial massage therapy will be the best path to a healthy recovery.
Your remedial massage therapist will ask you a series of questions. You will be taken through an assessment with some range of movement tests to isolate the condition. Your therapist will assess your individual situation. Then they will use the most appropriate remedial techniques to alleviate the pain in the affected areas. You will also be prescribed with take home exercises to help alleviate the pain in the affected areas between your massage treatment sessions.
This is a pain you do not want to live with. It only gets worse if not treated properly early on. If you would like to book in for an appointment please contact Phillip Island Massage therapy 0426501182 or contact us for further information.