Where can I get treatment for sciatica?

March 1, 2021

Maria Nolan

An osteopath is trained to find the underlying cause of your pain and is able to treat sciatica in a gentle and natural way.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is caused by the compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. This is a large nerve that runs from your lower back, into the buttocks and down the back of both legs to the feet.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Firstly, the symptoms can vary from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms of sciatica are;

– Persistent pain down one buttock or leg

– Pain that is worse when sitting down due to nerve irritation

– Weakness, numbness or pins and needles. This can make it difficult to stand or to move the leg, foot and toes

– A sharp stabbing pain or a burning, tingling sensation

In some cases, patients also describe an electric shock or “running water” type pain.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is not a medical condition but it is caused by another underlying problem. Here are some examples of problems that can cause sciatica.

  • Structural changes to the spine as we get older
  • Ligament or muscle strains around the spine
  • A slipped or herniated disc, which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve
  • Bone diseases, such as Paget’s disease
  • Piriformis Syndrome – The piriformis muscle attaches to the pelvis and hip and if this muscle goes into spasm, it can lead to compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve

Where can I get help for sciatica?

Osteopathy treatment for sciatica will usually involve a combination of massage, physical therapy and exercises. This will help to improve mobility in the lumbar (lower back) spine and to ease tension points in the back and buttock muscles.

It may involve massage techniques on the hamstrings and the calf muscles to help alleviate tension on the sciatic nerve.

This is a helpful article to find out more about osteopathy https://nolanosteopathy.co.uk/faqs.php

Moreover, with the correct advice and treatment, the majority of people who suffer with sciatica will normally get better within a few weeks or months.

Every individual case is different and the patient becomes an important part of managing the condition themselves. Your osteopath will give you a suitable treatment plan, which may include stretching exercises and postural adjustments that you can do at home.

If you would like to find out more about how our osteopath in Newbury, Thatcham or Henley can help with sciatica;

BOOK ONLINE: here

☎ 01491 281972 (Henley Clinic)

☎ 01635 597290 (Thatcham or Newbury clinics)

There is more helpful information in these articles. https://www.iosteopathy.org/what-we-treat/osteopathy-and-back-pain/
https://www.iosteopathy.org/osteopathy/about-osteopathy/