free newsletter	Search for more Articles Printer Friendly Version

Sciatica and Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatment

Find out what's causing your Sciatica and which
treatment is going to be the most effective for you.

		Article Sections 4 Conditions Cause Sciatica How do you get rid of your sciatic pain? WARNING Learn the exercises that can prevent Sciatica and More!

If you're reading this article, it's a good bet that you have a radiating pain running down the back of your leg that just won't go away. If what I'm about to tell you sounds familiar, don't worry, help is on the way.

I guarantee you that what you are about to read will likely be far different than what you have read or heard anywhere else!

If you suffer from sciatica or are seeking to prevent its occurrence it is important to follow the information in this article. In addition, making stretching a part of your fitness regime will have a significant impact. To get you started on a safe and effective stretching routine learn more about The Stretching Handbook and how it can improve your fitness.

First, let me tell you why today's traditional treatment methods for sciatic nerve pain just flat out miss the boat. The medical community is so conditioned and focused on treating only the symptoms and trying to get in as many patients a day as possible, that many people are misdiagnosed and/or mistreated.

In order to get rid of your sciatica you must first know what is causing your pain... there are...

4 Conditions Cause Sciatica... Which is Causing Your Pain?
Sciatic nerve pain is simply caused by pressure being placed on the sciatic nerve and there are primarily four things that can create this... you may have one or more of the following:

Condition #1 - Piriformis Syndrome
The most common cause of sciatic pain is created when pressure is placed on the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle. Muscle imbalances pull the hip joints and pelvis out of place and this changes the positioning of the piriformis muscle, which then places pressure on the sciatic nerve. Click on the following link for a comprehensive article on the treatment of Piriformis Syndrome.

Here's an illustration of a study done on over 1500 people who were suffering from sciatic pain...

As you can see, the sciatic nerve runs under the piriformis muscle the majority of the time... however, it occasionally will run through or around the piriformis...

Whatever the case, muscle imbalances will cause major problems and are the underlying cause of piriformis syndrome.

Condition #2 - Herniated Discs
Pressure caused by a herniated or bulging disc. A herniation is when a disc protrudes out from between the vertebrae and this can either be caused by an event like a car accident, or, by months or years of uneven pressure due to muscle imbalances. This can sometimes cause sciatic pain, but it is also important to note that many people with herniated discs don't even experience pain or symptoms, and many don't know they have the condition.

Condition #3 - Spinal Stenosis
Pressure caused by spinal stenosis, which is a decrease in the space between the vertebrae. This is primarily caused by uneven pressure and compression due to muscle imbalances.

Condition #4 - Isthmic Spondylolisthesis
Pressure caused by Isthmic spondylolisthesis which is simply when a vertebrae slips or moves... this can sometimes pinch the sciatic nerve but often times people who have this condition don't have any sciatic pain, symptoms, or even know they have it!

As you can see, there is a trend here...

In Nearly Every Case Of Sciatica, Muscle
Imbalances Are The Primary Cause Of The
Pressure Being Placed On The Sciatic Nerve...

If you are not sure which one of the four is causing your sciatica, I recommend you start with the basics. Most cases of sciatic pain are caused by muscle imbalances so if you begin to work on correcting any muscle imbalances you have, you should start to see improvement right away.... and likely eliminate your sciatic pain in a few weeks or less!

There are several self assessments you can perform to help identify which specific muscle imbalances you have and these are covered in our Lose the Back Pain Video, along with step-by-step instructions on what to do to eliminate your imbalances and sciatic nerve pain...

Sciatica comes about either due to a traumatic event, muscle imbalances, or a combination of both...

The event scenario is most likely the catalyst for sudden onset of sciatic pain. So what happens when there is undue stress on the Piriformis muscle that stress causes it to go into spasm and then you have pain due to the Piriformis muscle putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.

In most cases, people go to physical therapy or minimize their physical activity to break the pain - spasm cycle and in most cases your symptoms subside. However, the event will also set you up for a lifetime of sciatic pain if the Piriformis muscle does not recover 100% in both strength and flexibility.

When you have an injury to a muscle, both strength and flexibility are compromised, and if your recovery ends before strength and flexibility return, you will never be 100% and will likely struggle with the problem forever.

The other way sciatic pain creeps into your life is due to your lifestyle and habits, and that is what we like to call the process. The process can be described as a prolonged onset of symptoms based on your everyday activities...

However, from a technical stand point the process really describes the development of the muscle imbalance in your hip. The Piriformis muscle is responsible for external rotation (moving your leg so your feet point outward). So over time that muscle gets tight from the positions you put yourself in and weakens from lack of use.

Let me give you some examples of what I mean:

1. If you sit on the edge of your chair with you legs separated and your feet pointing outward you are keeping your Piriformis muscle in a shortened position and that's how it gets tight and with extended sitting in that position, it gets weak form lack of use. Hence the imbalance.
2. Another example is runners and bikers who actually work very hard tend to get sciatica because they fail to keep a strength vs. stretch balance in their workouts. Hence the imbalance creates a greater pull toward external rotation and the result is a tight Piriformis and an irritated sciatic nerve creating pain.

These are just two examples of how muscle imbalances can affect the Piriformis muscle and cause sciatic pain. You may not be a runner or cyclist but I'll bet you have muscle imbalances that are causing your sciatic pain!

So how do you get rid of your sciatic pain?
Will learning one new stretch be enough? It very well may be. However depending on the severity of your condition you may need to change your activities of daily living to include new stretches, new exercises that include the use of the hip rotators like roller-blading, basketball, tennis, etc, and even better, specific corrective exercise specific to your situation... like those covered in our video. As always, learn as much as you can about your condition, so that you can ask the tough questions to your healthcare providers and get the best care possible.

Here's just one sample exercise that can help eliminate sciatica... however, it is very important that you understand that this particular exercise may or may NOT be right for you... the only way to know for sure is to find out exactly what physical dysfunctions you have...

Sample Sciatica Exercise
We call this one the "Hip Swing"

Start by lying face down with your knees bent at 90 degrees and feet in the air...

Slowly let your legs rock from side to side while trying to keep your hips pressed down on the floor (table or bed)...

Be sure to keep your knees and feet together and slowly continue to rock back and fourth from side to side...

You will typically feel a restriction / tightness on the affected side when you rock your legs in the opposite direction.

You can perform this exercise daily, even several times per day and should start to see improvement (increases in range of motion and decreases in pain) within 1-2 weeks or less...

Stretching is one of the most under-utilized techniques for improving athletic performance and getting rid of those annoying sports injuries. Don't make the mistake of thinking that something as simple as stretching won't be effective.

And to help you improve your flexibility quickly and safely, you can't go past The Stretching Handbook & DVD. Together they include over 130 clear photographs and 40 videos of every possible stretching exercise, for every major muscle group in your body.

The Stretching Handbook & DVD will show you, step-by-step, how to perform each stretch EXACTLY! Plus, you'll learn the benefits of flexibility; the 7 critical rules for safe stretching; and how to stretch properly. Discover more about The Stretching Handbook & DVD here.

WARNING
This exercise is just an example and may or may not be right for you... it may even make things WORSE!

The best thing for you to do is find out exactly what muscle imbalances you have and then do specific, targeted exercises and stretches based on the results you find after performing the self assessments covered in the Lose the Back Pain System...

Remember...

One last point, sciaitic pain is not caused by a lack of prescription medications so don't think that taking some anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants will fix it... it won't!

Also, many people are able to eliminate sciatic pain within days just by performing a few exercises and stretches... but not general exercise... the exact corrective exercises and stretches they need to do.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Article from Jesse Cannone at Lose The Back Pain.
Jesse has spent years working with individuals with special
conditions like stroke recovery, Parkinson's, and pre-post
rehabilitation on every thing from tennis elbow to back pain,
and back pain being one of the most common. Because so
many people he worked with were dealing with back pain,
he quickly became a recognized expert and resource.
-----------------------------------------------------------