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Sciatica Nerve Pain

Back Clinic Sciatica Nerve Pain Chiropractic, Physical Therapy Treatment Team. The common cause is a bulging or ruptured disc (herniated disc) in the spine pressing against the nerve roots that lead to the sciatic nerve. Sciatica nerve pain can also be a symptom of other conditions affecting the spine, such as narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis), bone spurs (small, bony growths that form along joints) caused by arthritis, or nerve root compression (pinched nerve) caused by injury. In rare cases, sciatica can also be caused by conditions that do not involve the spine, i.e. tumors or pregnancy.

What are the symptoms?

Pain that begins in your back or buttock and moves down your leg and may move into the foot. Weakness, tingling, or numbness in the leg may also occur.

Sitting, standing for a long time, and movements that cause the spine to flex (such as knee-to-chest exercises) may make symptoms worse.

Walking, lying down, and movements that extend the spine (such as press-ups) may relieve symptoms. For answers to any questions you may have please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900


Discover the Most Effective Non-surgical Treatments for Sciatica

Discover the Most Effective Non-surgical Treatments for Sciatica

Can non-surgical treatments like acupuncture and spinal decompression provide relief to individuals dealing with sciatica?

Introduction

When many individuals start to feel pain running down their legs after a long day of activities, it causes them to have limited mobility and difficulty finding a place to rest. Many people think that they are just dealing with leg pain, but it can be more of an issue as they realize that it’s not just the leg pain they are experiencing but it is sciatica. While this long nerve comes from the lower back and travels down to the legs, it can succumb to pain and discomfort when herniated discs or muscles compress and aggravate the nerve. When this happens, it can impact a person’s mobility and quality of life, thus causing them to seek out treatment to reduce the pain from sciatica. Fortunately, alternative therapies like acupuncture and spinal decompression have been utilized to not only minimize sciatic pain but also provide positive, beneficial results. Today’s article looks at sciatica, how spinal decompression and acupuncture can relieve sciatica, and how integrating these two non-surgical treatments can lead to beneficial results. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how sciatica can significantly impact a person’s well-being and quality of life. We also inform and guide patients on how integrating acupuncture therapy and spinal decompression can positively reduce sciatica. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating non-surgical treatments into a wellness routine to relieve sciatica and its referred symptoms. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.

 

Understanding Sciatica

Do you often experience numbness or tingling sensations from your lower back to your legs? Do you feel like your gait is feeling off balance? Or have you stretched your legs after being seated for a while, which provides temporary relief? While the sciatic nerve plays a pivotal role in motor function in the legs, when various factors, such as herniated discs and even pregnancy, start to aggravate the nerve, it can cause pain. Sciatica is a deliberating pain condition often mislabeled as low back pain or radicular leg pain due to these two musculoskeletal conditions. These are comorbidities and can be exacerbated by simple twists and turns. (Davis et al., 2024)

 

 

Additionally, when many individuals are doing repetitive motions or dealing with degenerative changes in the spine, the spinal discs are more prone to herniation. They may press on the spinal nerves, causing the neuron signals to invoke pain and discomfort in the lower extremities. (Zhou et al., 2021) At the same time, sciatica can be both spinal and extra-spinal sources in the lumbar spinal region, which causes many individuals to be in constant pain and looking for relief. (Siddiq et al., 2020) When sciatica pain starts to affect a person’s lower extremities, causing mobility issues, many people seek treatments to reduce the pain-like effects of sciatica. 

 


The Science of Motion-Video


 

Acupuncture For Reducing Sciatica Pain

When it comes to treating sciatica, many people can look into non-surgical treatments due to its affordability and effectiveness in reducing sciatica and its associated pain-like symptoms. Non-surgical treatments can be customized to the individual’s pain and be combined to restore a person’s quality of life. Two non-surgical treatments that can help reduce sciatica are acupuncture and spinal decompression. Acupuncture has a long history of providing significant positive effects on lowering sciatic pain and improving a person’s quality of life. (Yuan et al., 2020) Highly trained professionals from China use acupuncture and incorporate small solid needles to provide instant relief from sciatica’s associated symptoms. This is because acupuncture exerts analgesic effects by regulating microglia activation, inhibiting the body’s natural inflammatory response, and modulating receptors along the pain pathway in the nervous system. (Zhang et al., 2023) To this point, acupuncture can stimulate the body’s acupoints to restore balance.

 

The Effects Of Acupuncture

One of the effects of acupuncture for relieving sciatica is that it can reduce pain intensity by changing the brain’s activity patterns when the pain receptors are disrupted. (Yu et al., 2022) Additionally, when acupuncturists start to stimulate the nerves in the muscles and tissues, they release endorphins and other neurohumoral factors that help change the pain process in the nervous system. Acupuncture helps reduce inflammation while improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility through increasing microcirculation to reduce swelling while blocking sciatica pain from affecting the lower extremities. 

 

Spinal Decompression For Relieving Sciatica Pain

 

Another form of non-surgical treatment is spinal decompression, and it can help reduce the effects of sciatica and its associated pain symptoms. Spinal decompression utilizes a traction table to gently stretch the spine to create a negative pressure within the spinal disc and free up the affected nerves. For sciatica individuals, this non-surgical treatment relieves the sciatic nerve as spinal decompression helps reduce the pain intensity and improve mobility function in the lower extremities. (Choi et al., 2022) The main objective of spinal decompression is to create space within the spinal canal and neural structures to release the aggravated sciatic nerve from causing more pain. (Burkhard et al., 2022

 

The Effects Of Spinal Decompression

Many individuals can begin to feel relief from incorporating spinal decompression in their wellness treatment. This non-surgical treatment promotes fluids and nutrients to the spinal disc to kick-start the body’s natural healing process. When the spine is being gently stretched, there is less pressure on the sciatic nerves, which can alleviate the pain and improve mobility. Additionally, many individuals will feel their flexibility and mobility back in their lumbar region.

 

Integrating Acupuncture and Spinal Decompression For Relief

So, when many people start to integrate spinal decompression and acupuncture as a holistic and non-surgical approach for relieving sciatica, the results and benefits are positive. While spinal decompression targets the mechanical healing of the spinal disc and reducing nerve pressure, acupuncture focuses on relieving the pain and reducing inflammation at a systemic level. This enhances the body’s natural healing process and offers a synergistic effect to improve treatment outcomes. Non-surgical treatments like acupuncture and spinal decompression can provide a hopeful outcome for many individuals seeking relief from their sciatic pain without resorting to surgical procedures. These treatments allow the individual to regain their mobility in their lower extremities, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life by making people more mindful of their bodies and reducing the chances of sciatica from returning. By doing so, many individuals can live a healthier and pain-free lifestyle.

 


References

Burkhard, M. D., Farshad, M., Suter, D., Cornaz, F., Leoty, L., Furnstahl, P., & Spirig, J. M. (2022). Spinal decompression with patient-specific guides. Spine J, 22(7), 1160-1168. doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2022.01.002

Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P. B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2022, 6343837. doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837

Davis, D., Maini, K., Taqi, M., & Vasudevan, A. (2024). Sciatica. In StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29939685

Siddiq, M. A. B., Clegg, D., Hasan, S. A., & Rasker, J. J. (2020). Extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics: a scoping review. Korean J Pain, 33(4), 305-317. doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2020.33.4.305

Yu, F. T., Liu, C. Z., Ni, G. X., Cai, G. W., Liu, Z. S., Zhou, X. Q., Ma, C. Y., Meng, X. L., Tu, J. F., Li, H. W., Yang, J. W., Yan, S. Y., Fu, H. Y., Xu, W. T., Li, J., Xiang, H. C., Sun, T. H., Zhang, B., Li, M. H., . . . Wang, L. Q. (2022). Acupuncture for chronic sciatica: protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 12(5), e054566. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054566

Yuan, S., Huang, C., Xu, Y., Chen, D., & Chen, L. (2020). Acupuncture for lumbar disc herniation: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore), 99(9), e19117. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000019117

Zhang, Z., Hu, T., Huang, P., Yang, M., Huang, Z., Xia, Y., Zhang, X., Zhang, X., & Ni, G. (2023). The efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for sciatica: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails. Front Neurosci, 17, 1097830. doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1097830

Zhou, J., Mi, J., Peng, Y., Han, H., & Liu, Z. (2021). Causal Associations of Obesity With the Intervertebral Degeneration, Low Back Pain, and Sciatica: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 12, 740200. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.740200

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Unpacking the Connection Between Electroacupuncture & Sciatica Pain

Unpacking the Connection Between Electroacupuncture & Sciatica Pain

Can the effects of electroacupuncture reduce sciatica in individuals dealing with low back pain to restore their mobility?

Introduction

When many people start to overuse their muscles in the lower quadrants, it can lead to numerous issues that cause pain and discomfort. One of the most common pain issues in the lower quadrants of the musculoskeletal system is sciatica, which is associated with low back pain. This pain duo can affect a person’s daily routine and lead them to pain and discomfort. This musculoskeletal condition is common, and when it affects one of the legs and lower back, many people state that it’s a radiating shooting pain that doesn’t go away for a while. Luckily, there are treatments like electroacupuncture to reduce sciatica associated with low back pain. Today’s article looks at the sciatica-low-back connection, how electroacupuncture reduces this pain connection, and how electroacupuncture can restore mobility to the individual. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how to reduce the sciatica-low-back connection with electroacupuncture. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture therapy can be combined with other therapies to restore mobility to the body. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating electroacupuncture therapy as part of their routine to reduce sciatica associated with low back pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.

 

The Sciatica & Low Back Connection

Do you feel muscle aches or pain in your lower back or your legs? Do you experience radiating, throbbing pain in your legs that affects your walking ability? Or have you noticed that your legs and lower back ache more when carrying a heavy object? Many of these scenarios are associated with sciatica, which correlates with lower back pain. Now, sciatica is often characterized by aggravating pain traveling along the sciatic nerve from the lower back region, impairing a person’s quality of life. In the musculoskeletal system, the sciatic nerve plays an important role by providing motor function to the legs. (Davis et al., 2024) Now, when the sciatic nerve, the lumbar region also has a pivotal role. The lumbar region in the musculoskeletal region also has a crucial role in providing support, strength, and flexibility to the body. However, both the sciatic nerve and lumbar spinal region are more prone to stress and injuries from traumatic injuries and environmental factors that can impact the lumbar spinal discs and the sciatic nerve.

 

 

Repetitive motions, obesity, improper lifting, degenerative spinal issues, and musculoskeletal conditions are a few causes and risk factors contributing to the development of sciatica associated with the lower back. What eventually happens is that the water content and the progressive loss of the proteoglycans of the spinal discs break down between the vertebrae and protrude out to press on the sciatic nerve, which then can become irritated and cause referred radiating pain in the legs and lower back. (Zhou et al., 2021) The combination of sciatica and lower back pain can become a socio-economic issue depending on the severity of the pain that the sciatic nerve is causing and can make individuals miss out on any activities they are participating in. (Siddiq et al., 2020) While sciatica pain-like symptoms often correlate with the lumbar region, many individuals can find the relief they are looking for through various treatments.

 


Sciatica Causes- Video


Electroacupuncture Reducing The Sciatica-Low Back Connection

When it comes to reducing the sciatic-low-back connection, many individuals seek out treatment that is affordable and effective in decreasing pain-like issues. Non-surgical treatments like electroacupuncture can be beneficial to many individuals who are experiencing sciatica pain correlated with the lower back. Electroacupuncture is another form of traditional acupuncture therapy that originates in China. Highly trained acupuncturists follow the same acupuncture principles by placing solid thin needles at different acupoints in the body to restore qui or chi (energy flow). Electroacupuncture combines needles and electrostimulation to reduce the central pain-regulatory mechanisms causing low back pain and sciatica by blocking the pain signals and providing pain relief. (Kong, 2020) At the same time, electroacupuncture offers analgesic properties to stimulate endorphins and reduce pain medication for low back pain safely. (Sung et al., 2021)

 

 

Electroacupuncture Restoring Mobility

When the lower extremities are experiencing limited mobility due to sciatica associated with low back pain, electroacupuncture can help relax the muscles that are aggravating the sciatic nerve and even help improve blood flow to the lumbar muscles. That is because electroacupuncture can stimulate specific body regions to reduce the somato-vagal-adrenal reflexes to relieve and restore mobility to the lower extremities. (Liu et al., 2021) Additionally, electroacupuncture can be combined with other non-surgical therapies to help strengthen the core and lower back muscles, allowing people to be more mindful of what factors are causing sciatica and lower back pain. By doing this, many people struggling with sciatica associated with low back pain can incorporate electroacupuncture as part of their treatment program combined with holistic approaches to improving their quality of life and providing a pathway to improving their mobility. 

 


References

Davis, D., Maini, K., Taqi, M., & Vasudevan, A. (2024). Sciatica. In StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29939685

Kong, J. T. (2020). Electroacupuncture for Treating Chronic Low-Back Pain: Preliminary Research Results. Med Acupunct, 32(6), 396-397. doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.1495

Liu, S., Wang, Z., Su, Y., Qi, L., Yang, W., Fu, M., Jing, X., Wang, Y., & Ma, Q. (2021). A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagal-adrenal axis. Nature, 598(7882), 641-645. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04001-4

Siddiq, M. A. B., Clegg, D., Hasan, S. A., & Rasker, J. J. (2020). Extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics: a scoping review. Korean J Pain, 33(4), 305-317. doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2020.33.4.305

Sung, W. S., Park, J. R., Park, K., Youn, I., Yeum, H. W., Kim, S., Choi, J., Cho, Y., Hong, Y., Park, Y., Kim, E. J., & Nam, D. (2021). The effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for nonspecific chronic low back pain: A protocol for systematic review and/or meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore), 100(4), e24281. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000024281

Zhou, J., Mi, J., Peng, Y., Han, H., & Liu, Z. (2021). Causal Associations of Obesity With the Intervertebral Degeneration, Low Back Pain, and Sciatica: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 12, 740200. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.740200

Disclaimer

The Power of Acupuncture for Piriformis Syndrome

The Power of Acupuncture for Piriformis Syndrome

Can individuals with piriformis syndrome incorporate acupuncture with various therapies to reduce sciatic nerve pain and other symptoms?

Introduction

As many individuals move around from one location to another thanks to the lower body extremities, the surrounding muscles, ligaments, nerve roots, and tissues help contribute to the sensory-motor function of the hips, legs, buttocks, and feet. All these muscle groups factor in to ensure they can be mobile without the effects of pain or discomfort. However, many factors and issues can cause the surrounding muscles to develop musculoskeletal problems over time, affecting a person’s mobility. One of the muscles that helps share the responsibility for mobility to hips and buttocks is the piriformis muscle, which is often overlooked when various injuries or repetitive motions start to affect a person’s ability to walk. Today’s article examines how piriformis syndrome affects mobility, how sciatic pain correlates with piriformis syndrome, and how therapies like acupuncture can help reduce piriformis syndrome. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatments to minimize piriformis syndrome affecting a person’s mobility. We also inform and guide patients on how treatments like acupuncture can help reduce sciatic nerve pain associated with piriformis syndrome. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the referred pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from piriformis syndrome that is affecting their ability to walk. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.

 

Piriformis Syndrome Affecting Mobility

Have you been experiencing muscle tightness in your hips or buttock region, affecting your walking ability? Do you feel sensations of numbness, tingling, or burning pain traveling down to your knees and feet? Or, after a long day of work, do you feel pain when you are sitting down? Most of these symptoms are often correlated with piriformis syndrome. The six surrounding muscles surrounding the gluteal region of the thighs and hips all work together to provide lower body movement while stabilizing the hips and rotating the thighs. The piriformis muscle is a small, flat, pear-shaped muscle that runs on top of the sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome is a clinical musculoskeletal condition that causes sciatic nerve entrapment that causes many individuals to report shooting and burning pain down to their buttock region. (Hicks et al., 2024) This causes many people to think they are dealing with low back pain associated with sciatica. When a person is dealing with piriformis syndrome, they will experience limited mobility in their hips, which, over time, if not treated, will affect the thighs and legs. 

 

How Does Sciatic Nerve Pain correlate with Piriformis Syndrome?

 

Additionally, since piriformis syndrome is correlated with sciatic nerve pain, some clinical findings causing overlapping risk profiles include restricted external hip rotation and muscle tightness of the lumbosacral muscles. Other clinical findings range from palpatory pain over the greater sciatic notch to aggravated pain in a seated position. (Sharma et al., 2023) Since sciatic nerve entrapment is correlated with piriformis syndrome, it is still regarded as the non-discogenic cause of sciatica. (Son & Lee, 2022) When that sciatic nerve gets trapped within the piriformis muscle, many people will experience numbness, tingling sensations, and similar pain patterns in the legs, just like sciatica; however, when individuals are looking for treatments to reduce the sciatic nerve pain and improve the piriformis muscle.

 

Acupuncture Therapy Reduces Piriformis Syndrome

 

When people are looking for treatments to reduce their sciatic nerve pain correlated with piriformis syndrome, they are seeking treatments that are affordable and can reduce the pain through consecutive sessions. Acupuncture therapy can help reduce the effects of piriformis syndrome. Acupuncture is a complementary and alternative therapy from China that uses solid, thin needles to be placed on the acupoints in the body. Additionally, highly trained professionals can incorporate various acupuncture methods to treat and reduce the effects of piriformis syndrome. (He et al., 2023) At the same time, when a person is being treated for piriformis syndrome, an acupuncturist uses ultrasound-guided techniques to allow accurate needle placement within the deep muscles to provide an effective treatment response. (Fusco et al., 2018) This allows the affected surrounding muscles to relax and reduce sciatic nerve pain.

 

Acupuncture Reducing Sciatic Nerve Pain

Since sciatic nerve pain and piriformis syndrome have overlapping risk profiles, they can also be associated with other musculoskeletal pain conditions that can affect a person’s mobility. Acupuncture can help mitigate the pain signals causing motor or sensory disturbances within the pelvic and hip regions. (Kvorning et al., 2004) Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of non-surgical therapy that can be combined with other various therapies to help remobilize the hips and decompress the pain affecting the sciatic nerve while providing relief. (Vij et al., 2021) By incorporating acupuncture as part of a person’s health and wellness treatment plan, they will begin to gradually manage the associated symptoms and reduce the chances of piriformis syndrome from returning to cause sciatic nerve pain in the lower extremities. This allows people to be more mindful and help restore the body’s natural healing process over time.


Reclaim Your Mobility- Video


References

Fusco, P., Di Carlo, S., Scimia, P., Degan, G., Petrucci, E., & Marinangeli, F. (2018). Ultrasound-guided Dry Needling Treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points for Piriformis Syndrome Management: A Case Series. J Chiropr Med, 17(3), 198-200. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2018.04.002

He, Y., Miao, F., Fan, Y., Zhang, F., Yang, P., Zhao, X., Wang, M., He, C., & He, J. (2023). Acupuncture Methods for Piriformis Syndrome: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. J Pain Res, 16, 2357-2364. doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S417211

Hicks, B. L., Lam, J. C., & Varacallo, M. (2024). Piriformis Syndrome. In StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28846222

Kvorning, N., Holmberg, C., Grennert, L., Aberg, A., & Akeson, J. (2004). Acupuncture relieves pelvic and low-back pain in late pregnancy. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 83(3), 246-250. doi.org/10.1111/j.0001-6349.2004.0215.x

Sharma, S., Kaur, H., Verma, N., & Adhya, B. (2023). Looking beyond Piriformis Syndrome: Is It Really the Piriformis? Hip Pelvis, 35(1), 1-5. doi.org/10.5371/hp.2023.35.1.1

Son, B. C., & Lee, C. (2022). Piriformis Syndrome (Sciatic Nerve Entrapment) Associated With Type C Sciatic Nerve Variation: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review. Korean J Neurotrauma, 18(2), 434-443. doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2022.18.e29

Vij, N., Kiernan, H., Bisht, R., Singleton, I., Cornett, E. M., Kaye, A. D., Imani, F., Varrassi, G., Pourbahri, M., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2021). Surgical and Non-surgical Treatment Options for Piriformis Syndrome: A Literature Review. Anesth Pain Med, 11(1), e112825. doi.org/10.5812/aapm.112825

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Easy Sciatica Pain Relief with Acupuncture Techniques

Easy Sciatica Pain Relief with Acupuncture Techniques

Can individuals dealing with sciatica pain find the relief they need from acupuncture to restore low back mobility?

Introduction

The body’s lower extremities provide stability and movement to the individual as they are moving from one location to another without pain or discomfort. The lower extremities consist of the hips, lower back, legs, thighs, pelvis, knees, and feet; each has various muscles, nerve roots, and ligaments with a specific job to each muscle quadrant. The spinal column in the musculoskeletal system helps provide proper posture while protecting the spinal cord from injuries. However, more often than not, the lower extremities can succumb to injuries as many individuals incorporate repetitive motions that can compress the nerve roots that are spread out to the lower extremities, which can invoke pain. The most common pain that seems to affect the lower back and legs is sciatica, and when not treated, it can cause overlapping risk profiles to the lower extremities. Today’s article examines how sciatica is correlated with the lower back and how non-surgical treatments can help reduce the effects of sciatic pain. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatments to relieve sciatica pain affecting their lower extremities. We also inform and guide patients on how non-surgical treatments can help reduce sciatica pain from the lower musculoskeletal extremities. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from sciatica that are causing them pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.

 

How Does Sciatica Correlate With The Lower Back?

Do you often experience numb or tingling sensations running down your leg that cause your leg or foot to lose sensation briefly? Do you feel shooting pain in your lower back after excessive sitting at your desk? Or do you find that stretching your legs or back temporarily relieves the pain, only for it to come back? Many individual who are experiencing shooting pain running down their legs are dealing with sciatica. When it comes to the lower extremities in the musculoskeletal system, many individuals make repetitive motions on their spine that can cause the spinal discs to become compressed and herniated under pressure. When the spinal disc is herniated in the lumbar spine, that disc will start to press on the surrounding nerve roots, thus sending radiating pain down the legs. Sciatica is defined as when individuals are experiencing pain coming from the lumbosacral nerve root and causing either a burning, heaviness, or tightness sensation. (Aguilar-Shea et al., 2022) Sciatica can range from mild to severe, forcing many individuals to think their foot is asleep. However, the sciatic nerve root is compressed, trapped, stuck, or pinched, which causes muscle spasms within the lower back, buttock, or legs. Hence, many individuals will explain that they are experiencing low back or leg pain when it is sciatica. 

 

 

Since the sciatic nerve is a long, thick nerve in the human body, it travels from the lumbar region down to the knee and connects to other nerves to reach the foot. Sciatica pain can be two conditions with the same pain-like symptom effects known as true or sciatica-like conditions. True sciatica is where an injury is directly affecting the sciatic nerve. This can relate to a slipped disc caused by environmental factors like lifting a heavy object, aggravating the sciatic nerve root, and causing pain that worsens. (Siddiq et al., 2020) For sciatica-like conditions, this is where other musculoskeletal conditions are causing sciatic pain-like symptoms on the lower extremities. Musculoskeletal conditions like piriformis syndrome can cause sciatica pain-like symptoms where the piriformis muscle is irritated or inflamed, pressing on the sciatic nerve, which causes many people to report pain along the gluteal region that may shoot a burning, aching sensations down the back of the legs. (Hicks et al., 2024) However, there are ways to treat sciatica and reduce the pain-like effects causing mobility issues.

 


Sciatica, Causes, Symptoms and Tips- Video


Non-surgical Treatments For Sciatica

When it comes to reducing sciatica pain, many individuals will seek out treatment that is cost-effective and customized to the person’s pain. Some treatments, like neural mobilization, can apply mechanical forces to the nerve roots to restore healthy movement to the legs and lower extremities. (Peacock et al., 2023) Other treatments, like spinal decompression, use gentle traction on the spinal disc to lay off the pressure on the sciatic nerve to provide relief. Non-surgical treatments are favorable to many people due to how affordable it is and personalized to the person’s pain as they help reduce pain and disability. (Liu et al., 2023) Luckily, a form of non-surgical treatment can help relieve sciatica and its associated pain-like symptoms.

 

Acupuncture Relieving Sciatic Pain

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of non-surgical treatments in which trained professionals use thin, solid needles to be inserted and placed on the affected area, causing pain. Acupuncture can help reduce the distortion of the affected nerve roots, and local inflammatory cytokines correlated with sciatica. (Yu et al., 2021) What this does is that it normalizes the neuron signals to a default mode from aggravating the surrounding muscle fibers and descending the pain. Additionally, acupuncture can help restore the body’s qi or energy by reducing the pain by placing the needles on the acupoint of the vital organs that share a relationship with the sciatic nerve. (Yu et al., 2022) This is known as somato-visceral, where the vital organs could be the affected area, causing overlapping muscle and nerve risk profiles. Acupuncture is an excellent form of non-surgical treatment that can be combined with other various therapies to help restore the body’s natural healing factor and allow people to be more mindful of how to take care of their bodies easily to prevent sciatica pain-like symptoms from arising.

 


References

Aguilar-Shea, A. L., Gallardo-Mayo, C., Sanz-Gonzalez, R., & Paredes, I. (2022). Sciatica. Management for family physicians. J Family Med Prim Care, 11(8), 4174-4179. doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21

Hicks, B. L., Lam, J. C., & Varacallo, M. (2024). Piriformis Syndrome. In StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28846222

Liu, C., Ferreira, G. E., Abdel Shaheed, C., Chen, Q., Harris, I. A., Bailey, C. S., Peul, W. C., Koes, B., & Lin, C. C. (2023). Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for sciatica: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ, 381, e070730. doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-070730

Peacock, M., Douglas, S., & Nair, P. (2023). Neural mobilization in low back and radicular pain: a systematic review. J Man Manip Ther, 31(1), 4-12. doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2022.2065599

Siddiq, M. A. B., Clegg, D., Hasan, S. A., & Rasker, J. J. (2020). Extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics: a scoping review. Korean J Pain, 33(4), 305-317. doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2020.33.4.305

Yu, F. T., Liu, C. Z., Ni, G. X., Cai, G. W., Liu, Z. S., Zhou, X. Q., Ma, C. Y., Meng, X. L., Tu, J. F., Li, H. W., Yang, J. W., Yan, S. Y., Fu, H. Y., Xu, W. T., Li, J., Xiang, H. C., Sun, T. H., Zhang, B., Li, M. H., . . . Wang, L. Q. (2022). Acupuncture for chronic sciatica: protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 12(5), e054566. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054566

Yu, F. T., Ni, G. X., Cai, G. W., Wan, W. J., Zhou, X. Q., Meng, X. L., Li, J. L., Tu, J. F., Wang, L. Q., Yang, J. W., Fu, H. Y., Zhang, X. C., Li, J., Wang, Y. F., Zhang, B., Zhang, X. H., Zhang, H. L., Shi, G. X., & Liu, C. Z. (2021). Efficacy of acupuncture for sciatica: study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial. Trials, 22(1), 34. doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04961-4

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Spinal Decompression: How to Relieve Hip Pain Easily

Spinal Decompression: How to Relieve Hip Pain Easily

Can individuals dealing with hip pain, find the relief they are looking for from spinal decompression to reduce their sciatica pain?

Introduction

When it comes to individuals doing everyday movements, the body can be in weird positions without pain or discomfort. Hence, people can stand or sit for prolonged periods and feel all right when doing strenuous activities. However, as the body ages, the surrounding muscles and ligaments can become weak and tight, while the spinal joints and discs start to be compressed and wear and tear. This is because many individuals make repetitive motions on their bodies that cause pain-like symptoms in the back, hips, neck, and body extremities, leading to referred pain in different body locations. When individuals are experiencing musculoskeletal pain in their bodies, it can cause overlapping risk profiles that can hinder the individual and cause them to be miserable. Additionally, when people experience musculoskeletal pain in their bodies, many will seek treatment to reduce the referred pain-like symptoms associated with the musculoskeletal pain. Today’s article will examine one type of musculoskeletal pain on the hips, how it can cause sciatica pain-like problems, and how treatments like decompression can reduce the pain-like effects of hip pain correlated with sciatica. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatments to relieve hip pain associated with sciatica. We also inform and guide patients on how decompression can help reduce pain-like symptoms like sciatica and restore hip mobility. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from hip pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.

 

Hip Pain Associated With Sciatica

Do you often experience stiffness in your lower back and hips after sitting down for an excessive period? How about feeling radiating pain running down from your lower back to your legs? Or do you think your hip and thigh muscles become tight and weak, which is affecting your gait stability? Many individuals experiencing these pain-like issues are experiencing hip pain, and it can be an issue when it is not treated over time. Since hip pain is a common and disabling condition that is challenging to diagnose, many individuals often express localized pain in one of the three anatomic regions: the anterior, posterior, and lateral hip sections. (Wilson & Furukawa, 2014) When individuals are dealing with hip pain, they will also experience referred pain in their lower backs, which causes them to be in distress and miserable. At the same time, simple ordinary movements like sitting or standing can affect the muscles and ligaments surrounding the hips and can be damaging. This can cause hip pain to be referred from the lumbar spine and spine problems, which then cause musculoskeletal issues in the lower extremities. (Lee et al., 2018

 

 

So, how would hip pain be associated with sciatica and causing pain in many lower extremities? The hip areas in the musculoskeletal system have numerous muscles surrounding the pelvic bone area that can become tight and weak, causing referred musculoskeletal pain from intrapelvic and gynecologic issues. (Chamberlain, 2021) This means that musculoskeletal disorders like piriformis syndromes associated with hip pain can lead to sciatica. The sciatic nerve travels down from the lumbar region and the buttocks and behind the leg. When a person is dealing with sciatica and is going to their primary doctor to get treated for the pain, their doctors will do a physical examination to see what factors are causing the pain. Some of the common findings during a physical exam were tenderness and palpation of the greater sciatic notch and the reproduction of pain along the hips. (Son & Lee, 2022) This causes associated symptoms that correlate with sciatica and hip pain, including:

  • Tingling/numbing sensations
  • Muscle tenderness
  • Pain while sitting or standing
  • Discomfort

 


Is Motion The Key To Healing- Video


Spinal Decompression Reducing Hip Pain

However, many individuals will find non-surgical treatments to help reduce sciatica associated with hip pain. Non-surgical treatments are customized to a person’s pain and are cost-effective while being gentle on the spine. Spinal decompression can help reduce hip pain associated with sciatica. Decompression on the spine allows gentle traction to stretch out weak muscles along the lower back and hips while the spinal discs are experiencing negative pressure. When a person is dealing with sciatica pain associated with hip pain and trying decompression for the first time, they are provided with the relief they deserve. (Crisp et al., 1955)

 

 

Additionally, many individuals who incorporate decompression for their hip pain can begin to feel its effects as it helps improve blood flow circulation back to the hips to start the natural healing process. (Hua et al., 2019) When people begin incorporating decompression for their hip pain, they can relax as they feel all their aches and pain gradually disappear as mobility and rotation are back on the lower extremities.

 


References

Chamberlain, R. (2021). Hip Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis. American Family Physician, 103(2), 81-89. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33448767

www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0115/p81.pdf

Crisp, E. J., Cyriax, J. H., & Christie, B. G. (1955). Discussion on the treatment of backache by traction. Proc R Soc Med, 48(10), 805-814. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13266831

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1919242/pdf/procrsmed00390-0081.pdf

Hua, K. C., Yang, X. G., Feng, J. T., Wang, F., Yang, L., Zhang, H., & Hu, Y. C. (2019). The efficacy and safety of core decompression for the treatment of femoral head necrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res, 14(1), 306. doi.org/10.1186/s13018-019-1359-7

Lee, Y. J., Kim, S. H., Chung, S. W., Lee, Y. K., & Koo, K. H. (2018). Causes of Chronic Hip Pain Undiagnosed or Misdiagnosed by Primary Physicians in Young Adult Patients: a Retrospective Descriptive Study. J Korean Med Sci, 33(52), e339. doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e339

Son, B. C., & Lee, C. (2022). Piriformis Syndrome (Sciatic Nerve Entrapment) Associated With Type C Sciatic Nerve Variation: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review. Korean J Neurotrauma, 18(2), 434-443. doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2022.18.e29

Wilson, J. J., & Furukawa, M. (2014). Evaluation of the patient with hip pain. American Family Physician, 89(1), 27-34. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24444505

www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2014/0101/p27.pdf

 

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Advanced Sciatica: Recognizing Nerve Damage Symptoms

Advanced Sciatica: Recognizing Nerve Damage Symptoms

For individuals dealing with chronic sciatica, when pain and other symptoms significantly impact daily activities and the ability to walk, can a musculoskeletal healthcare provider help relieve and manage symptoms through a multidisciplinary treatment plan?

Advanced Sciatica: Recognizing Nerve Damage Symptoms

Chronic Sciatica

Sciatica is a common condition that results from compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower back or leg. Chronic sciatica occurs when symptoms last for 12 months or longer.

Advanced Sciatica Symptoms

Advanced or chronic sciatica usually produces pain that radiates or travels down the back of the leg. Long-term sciatic nerve compression can result in:

  • Leg pain
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Electrical or burning sensations
  • Weakness
  • Weakness
  • Instability of the legs, which can impact the ability to walk.
  1. Severe nerve compression can progress to leg paralysis if the nerve is significantly damaged from chronic compression. (Antonio L Aguilar-Shea, et al., 2022)
  2. Sciatica can progress to nerve damage of the smaller nerves and travel into the legs and feet. Nerve damage/neuropathy can result in pain, tingling, and loss of sensation. (Jacob Wycher Bosma, et al., 2014)

Disabling Sciatica Treatment Options

When sciatica becomes disabling, affecting an individual’s ability to walk, more involved treatment is needed to bring relief. Many cases of chronic and disabling sciatica are caused by problems with the lumbar spine. Compression of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve can occur from bulging or herniated discs or spinal stenosis. If symptoms of sciatica persist beyond 12 months with little or no relief from physical therapy, non-surgical mechanical decompression, stretches and exercises, or pain management techniques, surgical procedures may be needed. (Lucy Dove, et al., 2023)

Lumbar decompression surgery encompasses several procedures to create more space in the lumbar spine and relieve nerve compression. Lumbar decompression surgery can include: (Mayfield Clinic. 2021)

Discectomy

  • This procedure removes a portion of a damaged disc between vertebrae to alleviate root compression from a bulging or herniated disc.

Laminectomy

  • This procedure removes the lamina, a portion of the vertebrae causing nerve compression, especially if there is a bone spur due to arthritic and degenerative changes in the spine.

Foraminotomy

  • This procedure widens the foramina, the openings in the vertebrae where the nerve roots exit to relieve compression.

Spinal Fusion

  • This procedure takes two or more vertebrae fusing them together with metal rods and screws for stabilization.
  • The procedure can be performed if:
  • An entire disc is removed.
  • Multiple laminectomies were performed.
  • One vertebra has slipped forward over another.

Daily Relief Management for Advanced Sciatica

Achieving relief from advanced sciatica symptoms at home can include regularly practicing methods like taking a hot bath or shower massage, and applying a heating pad to the lower back or glutes to relax tight muscles to help release the tightness surrounding the sciatic nerve.

  • Corrective or therapeutic exercises like sciatic nerve glides can help reduce tension along the nerve while low-back exercises that move the spine into forward or backward bending can reduce compression. (Witold Golonka, et al., 2021)
  • Medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, or nerve-pain medications may be recommended. (Antonio L Aguilar-Shea, et al., 2022)
  • Advanced sciatica may not be as responsive to conservative treatment methods, as the injury has set in and the nerve and surrounding tissues have become significantly restricted.
  • Sciatica symptoms lasting longer than 12 months require more involved treatment like injections or surgery to address symptoms effectively. (Antonio L Aguilar-Shea, et al., 2022)

Healing Chronic Sciatica

If the underlying cause can be effectively treated then chronic sciatica can be healed. Chronic sciatica often results from spinal conditions like herniated discs or lumbar spinal stenosis. These conditions narrow the space around the nerve roots that exit from the spinal cord and merge to form the sciatica nerve. Surgery is performed to open the space in the spine. (Mayfield Clinic. 2021) Sometimes sciatica is brought on by less common causes like a tumor or a spinal infection. In these cases, symptoms will not resolve until the underlying cause is addressed. Tumors may need to be surgically removed while infections require aggressive antibiotics to prevent spreading to other regions of the body. (Hospital for Special Surgery. 2023)

Pain Specialist Treatment Plan Development

Ongoing pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness are all symptoms that should be addressed with a healthcare provider. A pain specialist can help create a treatment plan that involves: (Hospital for Special Surgery. 2023)

  • Physical therapy
  • Therapeutic massage
  • Chiropractic decompression and spinal adjustments
  • Targeted stretches and exercises
  • Referrals to specialized healthcare providers
  • Injections
  • Medications

Sciatica Causes and Treatments


References

Aguilar-Shea, A. L., Gallardo-Mayo, C., Sanz-González, R., & Paredes, I. (2022). Sciatica. Management for family physicians. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 11(8), 4174–4179. doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21

Bosma, J. W., Wijntjes, J., Hilgevoord, T. A., & Veenstra, J. (2014). Severe isolated sciatic neuropathy due to a modified lotus position. World journal of clinical cases, 2(2), 39–41. doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v2.i2.39

Dove, L., Jones, G., Kelsey, L. A., Cairns, M. C., & Schmid, A. B. (2023). How effective are physiotherapy interventions in treating people with sciatica? A systematic review and meta-analysis. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 32(2), 517–533. doi.org/10.1007/s00586-022-07356-y

Mayfield Clinic. ( 2021). Spinal decompression laminectomy & foraminotomy.

Golonka, W., Raschka, C., Harandi, V. M., Domokos, B., Alfredson, H., Alfen, F. M., & Spang, C. (2021). Isolated Lumbar Extension Resistance Exercise in Limited Range of Motion for Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy and Disk Herniation-Clinical Outcome and Influencing Factors. Journal of clinical medicine, 10(11), 2430. doi.org/10.3390/jcm10112430

Hospital for Special Surgery. (2023). Sciatica.

Hospital for Special Surgery. (2023). Pain management.

A Guide to Complete Hamstring Muscle Injury Recovery

A Guide to Complete Hamstring Muscle Injury Recovery

Hamstring muscle injuries are common, especially in athletes and individuals with physically demanding jobs. Is there a better chance of full recovery with surgical repair and post-op rehabilitation?

A Guide to Complete Hamstring Muscle Injury Recovery

Hamstring Muscle Tear

Most often, hamstring muscle injuries are partial tears of the muscle. These types of injuries are muscle strains that occur when the muscle fibers are stretched beyond their normal limits. Complete tears of the hamstring muscle are unusual, but they do occur in both athletes and non-athletes. Determining the optimal treatment plan depends on:

  • The severity of the tendon tear
  • The expectations of the injured individual.
  1. Incomplete tears are when the hamstring muscle is stretched too far, but not completely detached.
  2. If the tear completes, the injury is more significant, as the ends are no longer connected. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2021)
  3. Complete tears usually occur at the top of the muscle where the tendon tears away from the pelvis.
  4. A complete tear usually occurs when there is a sudden flexion of the hip and extension of the knee joint – when the muscle contracts in this position, it gets stretched beyond its limits.
  5. Complete tears are recognized as different injuries and may require more invasive treatments. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2021)
  6. Individuals who sustain this type of injury describe a sharp stabbing in the back of the thigh.
  7. The injury may occur in athletes or middle-aged individuals. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2021)

Basic hamstring strains can be treated with simple steps – rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and conservative therapies.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a hamstring muscle strain can include pain, bruising, swelling, and movement difficulty. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2021) Individuals who sustain this injury typically experience sudden sharp pain. Signs of a tear can include:

  • Sharp pain where the buttock and thigh meet.
  • Difficulty walking.
  • Sitting can be difficult as the edge of a chair can place pressure directly on the injury.
  • Spasms and cramping sensations in the back of the thigh.
  • Weakness in the leg, specifically when bending the knee or lifting the leg behind the body.
  • Numbness or burning sensations as a result of sciatic nerve irritation.
  • Swelling and bruising in the back of the thigh – over time it can travel down to the back of the knee and calf and possibly into the foot.
  • With a complete hamstring tear, there is usually significant swelling and bruising that develops in the back of the thigh.

Diagnosis

The symptoms can be difficult to spot in the early stages which is why X-rays of the hip or thigh are usually obtained.

In some situations, a fragment of bone can get pulled off the pelvis along with the hamstring muscle attachment. MRI testing can be performed to evaluate the attachment and can define critical features of a complete hamstring muscle tear, including: (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2021)

  • The number of tendons involved.
  • Complete versus incomplete tearing.
  • The amount of retraction – the amount the tendons have pulled back.
  • This will guide the development of treatment.

Treatment

The treatment of a complete tear will depend on different factors. The other variable is the patient and their expectations.

  • Treatment is more aggressive in younger individuals like high-level athletes.
  • Treatment is less aggressive in middle-aged individuals.
  • Often a single tendon tear can be treated non-surgically.
  • When one tendon is involved, it is typically not pulled very far from its normal attachment and will develop scar tissue in a positive position.
  • Conversely, when three tendons have been torn, they usually pull more than a few centimeters away from the bone. These cases have better results with surgical repair. (UW Health. 2017)
  • Surgeons will use patient characteristics – high-level athletes or less physically active individuals – to guide treatment recommendations.

Rehabilitation

  • Rehabilitation following surgery can take 3-6 months or longer.
  • The first six weeks limit weight-bearing with the use of crutches.
  • Patients may be recommended to wear a brace to reduce tension on the repaired hamstring tendons.
  • Strengthening does not begin until three months post-op, and even light activities are usually delayed. (UW Health. 2017)
  • Because this injury can have a long recovery time, some individuals may choose nonsurgical treatment.
  • Sometimes these individuals experience symptoms of discomfort from sitting and may exhibit long-term weakness of the hamstring muscle.

Full recovery from a complete hamstring muscle injury takes time. Studies have shown high-level athletes are able to resume competitive sports after the repair and rehabilitation of an acute hamstring muscle injury. (Samuel K. Chu, Monica E. Rho. 2016)

  • Delaying surgical treatment may not always lead to optimal results.
  • When the tendon is torn away from its normal attachment, it begins to scar around the surrounding soft tissues.
  • When there is a delay of more than a few weeks following the initial injury, regaining the full length of the tendon and muscle can be challenging.
  • This could delay the rehabilitation process and may limit the potential for full recovery. (Ho Yoon Kwak, et al., 2011)

With severe injuries, there is a better chance of full recovery with surgical repair but could involve a long recovery and commitment to a post-op rehabilitation plan.



References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2021) Hamstring muscle injuries.

UW Health. (2017) Rehabilitation guidelines following proximal hamstring primary repair.

Chu, S. K., & Rho, M. E. (2016). Hamstring Injuries in the Athlete: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Return to Play. Current sports medicine reports, 15(3), 184–190. doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000264

Kwak, H. Y., Bae, S. W., Choi, Y. S., & Jang, M. S. (2011). Early surgical repair of acute complete rupture of the proximal hamstring tendons. Clinics in orthopedic surgery, 3(3), 249–253. doi.org/10.4055/cios.2011.3.3.249