Acupuncture for Sciatica

Acupuncture for sciatica relaxes the piriformis muscle and takes the pressure off of the sciatic nerve, while easing pain at the same time. In this way acupuncture not only reduces the pain of sciatica but fixes the cause of the pain.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is pain in the hip and leg due to irritation of the sciatic nerve, usually radiating to the buttocks and to the back of the thigh and even the calf. Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and is often caused by a tight piriformis muscle pressing on the sciatic nerve (called piriformis syndrome). This pressure on the nerve can cause pain down the course of the sciatic nerve.

What causes Sciatica?

Causes of sciatica include unhealthy habits such as poor sitting and sleeping postures, excessive sitting, and insufficient exercise and stretching of the muscles of the hip.

In some cases the cause is a herniated disc putting pressure on nerve roots in the lumbar spine. In such cases acupuncture can relieve the sciatic pain, and lessen the pain in the lower back.

How effective is acupuncture in relieving Sciatica?

In my experience, in time every case of sciatica can be cured. The amount of treatments needed for a complete cure varies according to the severity, cause, and duration of the sciatica. Typically an acute attack of sciatic pain lasting for a few weeks can be cured in a few treatments. Sciatica that has been ignored for many months can take longer to cure.

If the cause is a slipped disk, the sciatica can be resolved, but the lower back pain, at the site of the herniated disc, may require Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D) or surgery in the worse case. Though I have had patients that have decided not to undergo surgery but rather get acupuncture on a semi-regular basis. But this is for their back pain, the sciatica was taken care of long ago.

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