Anyone who has suffered from sciatic nerve pain can tell you it can be a very debilitating condition. It is typically caused by an impingement of the sciatic nerve in the lower back but the pain is actually felt radiating down the leg and in the buttock. There are several potential causes of sciatic pain including:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Pregnancy
- Herniated lumbar disc (also known as a slipped disc)
Acupuncture is one of the most gentle and effective treatment options. Traditional medicine may prescribe medication to deal with the pain caused by sciatica, but acupuncture is a drug-free option that treats the issue and not just the symptom.
Types of Sciatic Pain
Those suffering from sciatic pain often describe it as impacting just one side of the body and causing pain in the leg or buttocks that worsens when sitting; burning, tingling, or sometimes searing pain down the leg; weakness or numbness with difficulty moving the leg or the foot; or shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand.
What Acupuncture Does
It’s a safe and effective option to help manage the pain by increasing blood flow to the area and relaxing the lumbar muscles, while releasing those helpful endorphins. Research also points to acupuncture being an effective pain management option for sciatica.
Relieving the Pain
While acupuncture cannot heal the structural issues causing the sciatic pain, I often recommend chiropractic visits as well as muscular therapy as adjuncts to help alleviate the pressure on that nerve.
Each patient is different so no two treatments will be the same and I will work with you to determine the frequency and best number of total treatments.
