I think the most common self-diagnosis I hear is “I have Sciatica.” Now, I’m not a doctor; and I always recommend that you go to your Primary Care Physician to get checked out. However, many people come strolling through my office door complaining of low back pain that runs through their gluteal (your butt) muscles and sometimes down the leg. This tends to cause a lot of discomfort. But when is Sciatica not Sciatica? And if it’s not actually Sciatica, how do you treat it?

The initial reaction for most people is to just “Deal with it.” Some people opt to utilize a Chiropractor. Others will go for more drastic and extreme measures. But, what exactly is Sciatica?

Sciatica is when you experience a pain, tingling or numbness that can start in the lower back, extend through the gluteal (buttock region) and go down the leg – even all the way to your ankle and foot. This sensation is produced when certain Nerve Roots (that eventually become the sciatic nerve) become irritated. Bulging or herniated discs can cause this irritation. This is why it is important to seek out medical attention to rule out disc herniation.

However, there can be another cause of Sciatica, “Piriformis Syndrome” – or what I consider “False Sciatica.” The Sciatica nerve happens to run under the gluteal muscles, next to a small muscle called the “Piriformis.” In many people, this small muscle becomes tight. When it gets tight, it has a tendency to put pressure on the sciatic nerve. When this happens, the pressure on the nerve emits a similar, if not identical, sensation to that of actual, true sciatica pain.

What can you do if you have Piriformis Syndrome or Fake Sciatica? If you have had a massage from me, then you are familiar with my infamous “hip stretch.” You know what it is. It’s the stretch that I do when you are face down. I bend your leg at the knee, pull your knee closer to the edge of the massage table, find that tender point in your gluteal muscle area, then proceed to move your leg around in a way that kind of makes you feel like a frog (or at least I think that you look kind of like a frog, lol). A trained Massage Therapist will know to find Trigger Points that may be in your Gluteal Muscles, Piriformis and your low back muscles. If she is successful, you may find yourself with reduced or little to no pain.

The following stretch can help as well. While sitting in a chair, cross one leg over the other by placing your ankle slightly above your knee. If that is comfortable, you can then begin to bend at the waist slightly, towards your leg.

Or, you can lay on your back cross you foot over your knee, wrap your hands around the back of the knee and pull the leg towards you.

But what if it is actually Real Sciatica from a herniated disc? Seeking proper Medical attention is always the best way to go. However, getting regular massages can assist in your health. Even if it is real Sciatica, odds are that your gluteal and piriformis muscles are still tight and are aggravating the nerve. Getting a massage and acupuncture may not cure and fix the problem, but it can help to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort.

Schedule your next massage or acupuncture by clicking below.

https://www.schedulicity.com/Scheduling/Default.aspx?business=SPATZA#/services

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