sciatica pain Archives

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Sciatica: Pain Triggers and Treatment

Written by Luis Echeverry on March 12, 2020. Posted in Chiropractic, Lifestyle, Rejuvenation.

Sciatica pain is an aching pain that affects the sciatic nerve – a large nerve that extends from the lower back and down the back of each leg. Those who suffer from sciatica are typically between the ages of 30 and 50 and experience pain on one side of the lower body all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. The good news is that 90% of people suffering from sciatica pain can fully recover without the need for surgery. Read more…

What are the Symptoms of Sciatica Pain?

Anyone who’s experienced sciatica pain can easily identify the symptoms, which range from a tolerable ache to intense pain. These often include:

Lower back pain
Pain in the buttocks or the leg (typically worse when sitting)
Hip pain
A burning or tingling sensation down the leg
Weakness, numbness or difficultly moving the leg or foot
Pain on the side of your buttocks
A shooting pain which makes it difficult to stand

What Causes Sciatica Pain?

Degenerative Disc Disease.

Also known as a herniated disc, this condition is a breakdown of the discs that typically “cushion” the vertebrae. The gel-like center of a disc pushes through its outer lining and presses on the roots of the sciatic nerve.

Pregnancy.

Sciatica typically affects women late in pregnancy when the uterus rests on muscles of the lower back and pelvic floor and spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg. This tension causes the legs to swell and adds pressure to nearby nerves, including the sciatic.

Spinal Stenosis.

A condition most commonly found in adults over the age of 60, spinal stenosis occurs from the natural wear and tear of vertebrae. This leads to a narrowing of the spinal canal, thus putting pressure on the roots of the sciatic nerve.

Piriformis Syndrome.

Guys, this one impacts you! When you wear a large wallet in your back pocket, it can cause the piriformis muscle (the muscle that connects the lower spine to the upper thigh bone and runs directly over the sciatic nerve) to spasm and put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Tumors.

It’s rare, but tumors along the spinal cord or sciatic nerve can put pressure on the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord.

Injury/Infection.

Any kind of disruption to the muscle – inflammation, infection or injury – can put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Lifestyle.

Lifestyle choices can trigger sciatic pain, such as being overweight, not exercising regularly, wearing high heels or sleeping on a mattress that is either too hard or too soft.

Treatment Options for Sciatica

Most people who suffer from sciatica can improve quickly with at-home remedies such as bed rest, lower back stretches, ice packs and OTC medication. If the pain does not subside after a few weeks or keeps you from doing daily activities, you may want to consider other treatment options such as:

Physical Therapy

This includes stretching and an exercise routine specifically designed to treat sciatic pain. It will also improve your posture to take pressure off the sciatic nerve.

Acupuncture

This is a proven technique which stimulates specific points on the body by inserting thin needles through the skin and helps ease chronic pain such as sciatica.

Specialized Massage

Sacrology is a type of massage that incorporates gentle techniques for treating the psoas and piriformis muscles and surrounding structures.

Ease Your Sciatica

If you suffer from sciatica, we can help! Our studio offers virtual training and one-on-one training options. To learn more about our chiropractic care, acupuncture and specialized massage therapy, please call or text our South Tampa wellness center at (813) 440-3016.

Flipping Tire No Sciatica Pain DrivenFit

Natural Remedies for Sciatica

Written by Luis Echeverry on September 20, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Rejuvenation.

The sciatic nerve is a big nerve that runs from the lower back down through each leg. The term used to describe pain stemming from this nerve is Sciatica, either due to inflammation, compression, or overall irritation. You may even feel tingling, numbness, and weakness in the affected leg(s). Sadly for many people, sciatica pain can be unbearable!

Usually, those suffering with sciatica pain will gain some relief in stretching, and exercise. However, many will turn to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) to relieve their sciatica pain. At DrivenFit+SWS, we prefer the non-steroidal approach and would like to offer you some natural options without the dangerous side effects of NSAIDs.

4 Herbs for Sciatica

Turmeric

Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, binds anti-inflammatory properties of help to relieve sciatica pain and swelling by reducing levels of certain inflammation-stimulating enzymes.

Here’s how you can incorporate turmeric into your diet:

Brew it into a tea.
Add a small amount to a green smoothie.
Add ground turmeric to your food. Heat it in milk with coconut oil and a sprinkle of black pepper.

DrivenFit Tip: apply it topically in a paste; it can help from the outside in.

Garlic

Garlic is like turmeric; in that it has anti-inflammatory properties. This herb aids in fighting pain and bonus, it’s an immune system-booster. Add it into all your meals or (definitely not for the faint of heart) take four raw cloves each morning with a glass of water.

DrivenFit Tip: Like turmeric, garlic goes great in a green smoothie!

Jamaican Dogwood

Derived from the bark of the dogwood tree, Jamaican dogwood is a strong element used to relieve nerve pain. It can be applied as a salve or taken as a capsule. Note: if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid using Jamaican dogwood.

DrivenFit Tip: Consult your doctor before using it because it’s slightly toxic.

St. John’s Wort

Dating back to the Ancient Greeks, St. John’s Wort has a variety of benefits. With its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, astringent, and antioxidant properties, St. John’s Wort is a highly effective herb for sciatica pain. It even helps regenerate nerve tissue damaged by sciatica.

DrivenFit Tip: You can also use this herb to help with depression.

Arnica

Arnica, a homeopathic remedy for all sorts of aches and injuries is another natural choice you can try for sciatica. It is offered in both the traditional homeopathic oral solution or in creams and rubs.

Managing Sciatica Pain Naturally

You can effectively manage your sciatica pain naturally. You can potentially relieve much of your pain by combining regular physical activity (like walking, swimming, and even yoga) and stretching along with herbal remedies.

There you have our take on herbs for sciatica pain relief. Want to learn more about how to take a holistic approach to pain relief? Contact the team at DrivenFit + SWS today!