Sciatica Pain Relief with Osteopathic Treatment
It's a pain in the backside
Don't suffer with sciatica!
- Get professional, reliable advice and treatment
- Get out of pain fast
- Enjoy life pain free
Make an appointment online or call us now:
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is not a condition, it is a specific combination of symptoms. Sciatica can be caused by a variety of issues within the body; the same way that many conditions can cause headaches.
At DW Osteopathy, approximately 50% of patients who attend our clinics complain of sciatica-type symptoms. True sciatica however, is a very specific set of symptoms that can come about through irritation or damage to the sciatica nerve.
"I needlessly suffered with sciatica for weeks... After just one session with Dan my constant pain had gone and I was able to immediately sleep better at night."
- Sheila W
Symptoms of Sciatica
The symptoms of sciatica can vary in intensity and location for each individual. Symptoms most commonly appear in one leg but in more severe cases can occur in both legs.
Common symptoms of scaitica include:
- Pain in the lower back, buttocks, back of the legs and into the ankle or foot
- Pain down the back or side of the thigh and calf
- Numbness and/or "pins and needles" in the upper or lower leg
- Weakness in the muscles of the upper and lower leg
- Lower back pain and stiffness, but not always.
These symptoms are what an osteopath can treat.
The Sciatic Nerve
The Sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the human body. It originates from the spinal cord in the lower back, passes down through the pelvis, navigates underneath the deep buttock muscles, descends down the back of the legs and onto the top of the foot. There is one sciatic nerve per leg.
It provides sensation to a lot of the skin in the upper and lower leg, and provides physical control of the muscles at the back of the thigh and calf.
Causes of Sciatica
The symptoms of sciatica can be caused by a variety of different situations. Generally, the cause of the irritation to the sciatic nerve will come from one of two places; near the spinal cord where the nerve originates or along the length of the nerve at certain entrapment sites.
Some of the most common causes of sciatica include:
- A herniated disc (or disc prolapse) of the lumbar spine (lower back). This is informally known as a 'slipped disc'
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column)
- Direct physical trauma to the sciatic nerve
- Piriformis syndrome (where the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve)
Osteopaths are trained to diagnose the exact cause of the symptoms and to treat accordingly.
How Can Osteopathy help with Sciatica
Getting an expert opinion from an osteopath as early as possible will provide an exact cause of the irritation to the sciatica nerve. Once the osteopath has conducted a full physical assessment, they will then discuss and outline an appropriate treatment plan.
For individuals suffering with the symptoms of sciatica and are waiting to be seen by a professional, the best and simplest advice is to be sensible. Try to keep reasonably active, going about your daily activities, but don't do anything strenuous or start doing intense or vigorous sport or activities.
If you are unsure whether osteopathy treatment is right for you, please don't hesitate to give us a call. You will be able to speak to an osteopath who is always willing to discuss your problem and advise you on the best course of action.
Get fast, effective pain relief from an experienced osteopath in Chepstow.
Treating all aches and pains.
or
Call us on 07870 492 293 for an appointment today!
