Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated. It can be extremely painful - our treatment may help reduce muscular tension so you can return to normality.
If you are suffering with a sports injury, lower back pain, neck pain or knee pain, you may suspect you have sciatica. Sciatica can be very painful and unpleasant and radiates from the buttocks, through the leg, calf and foot. Painkillers can be used as temporary relief but for a natural, lasting solution, massage therapy can be a great alternative.
Many people experience sciatica-like symptoms but there are a multitude of muscles which could be the cause.
Piriformis Syndrome - The piriformis is a small muscle which can cause big problems! It is located deep in the buttocks - underneath the glutes - it runs from the sacrum (base of the spine) to the top of the femur (thigh bone). Piriformis syndrome can occur if the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated by the piriformis muscle. Symptoms include pain and discomfort in one buttock or pain radiating down the back of the leg. Symptoms may be worsened by prolonged sitting and physical activity. The area may feel tender when palpated or pressure applied.
Gluteus Minimis Trigger Points - This is the smallest of the three gluteal muscles. It is a broad, fan-shaped muscle, located deep in the buttocks, on the outside of the hip, beneath the glutes medius. Primary trigger points in this muscle exactly mimic sciatica symptoms: including pain/numbness in the buttock, pain radiating from the lower buttock, down the back of the thigh and into the calf, pain radiating from the side of the buttock, down the side of the thigh, knee and lower leg to the ankle, hip pain whilst walking and pain when rising from a chair.
Quadratus Lumborum - This muscle is located on either side of the lower back, connecting the top of the pelvis to the spine and ribs. If this muscle has spasmed you could experience pain radiating from the side of the back, along the crest of the hip and around into the upper groin region. You may experience pain radiating over the sacroiliac joint and lower buttock region, pain down the thigh or pain over the hip joint.
All of these conditions are treatable, and I have treated clients who thought they had 'true sciatica' but have had successful treatment for one of the above conditions. For example this client says "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"
How sciatica manifests can vary from patient to patient with differences in symptoms, severity and duration. This pain caused by sciatica correlates directly to where the nerve is being compressed, i.e the specific nerve root involved. Most often, sciatica pain is caused by L5/S1 nerve root irritation via a slipped disc (often also called a herniated, prolapsed or bulging disc) which can cause severe discomfort. But also, it can be caused by spinal stenosis or sports injuries to soft tissues surrounding the nerve which inflames the nerve root.
We use soft tissue techniques which are aimed at reducing nerve pressure, providing pain relief and easing muscular pain. We will provide you with all of the therapy and advice you need to relieve you from the pain you are experiencing. Your treatment is dependant upon condition, but we usually recommend an initial consultation of an hour which is only £40.
Do not suffer in silence - get yourself booked in today for professional and lasting pain relief.