Massage therapy releases tension caused by irritated nerves which can ease sciatica symptoms.
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated. It is extremely painful - we can provide pain relief for sufferers. It usually manifests as lower back pain but can spread through the leg, calf, buttocks and foot. Massage therapy is a brilliant alternative to painkillers.
You may suspect you have sciatica if you are experiencing feelings of numbness, weakness or difficulty moving the leg, feet or toes. You may also find that you feel sharp pain when rising from a seat. Sciatica sufferers often claim to feel constant pain which radiates from the lower spain, into the buttock, down the back of the leg and then into the foot. The pain is often described as a tingling or numbness feeling which goes down the back of the leg and into the calf.
Many people assume they have sciatica, but in fact there is a number of other condition which have similar symptoms including:
Piriformis Syndrome - Underneath the glutes is the piriformis muscle which is based deep in the buttocks. It covers the sacrum (base of the spine) to the top of the femur (thigh). Piriformis Syndrome occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated by the piriformis muscle. This causes various symptoms including pain in the back of the leg or in one buttock and when pressure is applied it may feel tender. Symptoms can be worsened by prolonged physical activity or prolonged sitting.
Gluteus Minimis Trigger Points - The smallest of the three gluteal muscles is fan shaped and broad, located deep in the buttocks, beneath the glutes medius. Primary trigger points can imitate sciatica symptoms such as pain or numbness in the buttocks, pain in the side or lower buttock, pain in the thigh, calf, knee, lower leg or ankle. You may also experience hip pain when walking or rising from a seated position.
Quadratus Lumborum - Located on either side of the lower back, connecting the spine and ribs to the top of the pelvis. Pain often radiates from the side of the back, along the hip and into the upper groin region. There may also be pain from the sacroiliac joint and lower buttock, in the hip joint or through the thigh.
All of the above conditions can be treated with correct massage therapy. Here is what one happy client had to say..:
"Absolute miracle, I have suffered for 10 years. My first appointment I could barely walk and I walked out the appointment normally and a different person. Doctors have given me so many different diagnosis not really knowing what was wrong, but here, he took one look at me and knew exactly what was wrong. Fantastic, thank you so much"
Every individual case is entirely unique and has its own symptoms, severity and duration dependent on how the sciatica manifests. Pain caused by sciatica comes from where the nerve is being pressurised, i.e the specific nerve root involved. Sciatica pain is caused by L5/S1 nerve root irritation via a slipped disc (sometimes called a herniated, prolapsed or bulging disc) which is very painful. It can also be caused by an injury to the soft tissues around the nerve with then cause irritation to the root of the nerve, or spinal stenosis.
Life Work Balance provide a comprehensive treatment including massage therapy and guidance on how to relieve you from pain you are going through - whether the cause is sciatica or a similar condition. We use soft tissue techniques to reduce muscular tension and nerve pressure. All treatment is customised to your needs after a thorough consultation. An initial consultation is an hour long and is only £40.
For effective pain relief, contact us today!