HELP FOR SCIATICA FROM PAIN SPECIALISTS IN SPALDING, LINCOLNSHIRE
Sciatica is a common but painful condition that affects anywhere between 10% to 40% of people during their life.
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Symptoms vary, from a tingling pain to a burning pain, but if it's not resolving by itself, you may need professional help to deal with your sciatica.
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LEARN ABOUT SCIATICA, THE CAUSES OF SCIATICA AND HOW YOU CAN TREAT SCIATICA AT HOME FROM STATE 11 SPALDING
Content written by Vic Paterson, RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Specialist, BTEC L5 Soft Tissue Therapy (CSSM), Hypnotherapist, MFHT
Sciatica is a really common condition, but many people don't understand what it is.
To understand sciatica, you need to be aware of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, which runs from the lower back, through the buttock muscles and down the leg.
There is a sciatic nerve in both your left leg and right leg. Imagine it like this: multiple tiny nerve fibres exit the lower spinal cord and join together to make the sciatic nerve. This nerve goes through the gluteal muscles (the buttocks), down your thigh, and splits into two branches near the knee.
One of the branches is called the tibial nerve. The tibial nerve goes down the back of the calf and all the way to the sole of the foot.
The other branch is called the common perineal nerve. It goes down the front and side of the calf.
If the sciatic nerve gets irritated or hurt, the pain or uncomfortable sensations that result, are known as sciatica.
WHEN SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SCIATICA?
Sciatica pain can be terrifically uncomfortable and painful, or even annoying, but it is rarely anything medically serious. However, there are some symptoms to be aware of, and we've put together a page all about when you should seek urgent medical advice; you can find it here.
WHAT CAUSES SCIATICA?
Sciatica is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, and that can be caused in a number of ways – such as changes to the discs in the spine where the nerve fibres branch out.
Inflammation around the sciatic nerve can also cause problems, and this can happen without any changes to the spinal discs. It can be caused by hypertension ('tightness") in the muscles around the sciatic nerve.
But regardless of cause, sciatica can be very painful.
Sciatica is most common in people in their forties and fifties, but it can affect anyone. There's no set pattern for sciatica either – some people recover quickly, whereas others can have the condition for months; research suggests around half the people who have sciatica will have improved at three months, with three-quarters feeling better at 12 months (yes, that's a full year!)
The pain varies from person to person and day to day, but it’s important to remember it’s rarely dangerous.
Issues with the muscles in the low back, gluteals (the buttocks), thigh and calf can cause symptoms that mimic sciatica, but aren’t “true” sciatica, although these are often just as painful.
HOME TREATMENT FOR SCIATICA AND SCIATICA PAIN
Many people initially try to treat their sciatica problems at home.
If you're able to take painkillers, many people find them useful for reducing pain whilst still allowing mobility. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can slow down healing (inflammation is part of the healing process in most cases), but non-anti-inflammatories can still reduce pain. If you're not sure if you can take painkillers, you should speak to your GP or pharmacist.
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Specific stretches, performed gently but regularly, can also help with sciatica. Some people choose exercises like yoga or pilates, but if you prefer home exercises, you can find a variety of NHS approved exercises for back pain on the NHS Scotland site by clicking here.
Home kinesiology taping may also be worth considering. Taping can provide altered sensation, and a feeling of support across the joint, as well as potentially helping reduce inflammation and swelling. We recommend Sport Tape (use this link and the discount code VICTORIA10 for 10% off your first order), and there's plenty of videos available on YouTube about how to use taping for sciatica.
GETTING PROFESSIONAL, SPECIALIST HELP FOR SCIATICA IN SPALDING
If you've tried home remedies and they've not made a difference, you may choose to seek professional or specialist help to relieve your sciatica pain.
Seeing your GP may lead to a prescription for stronger painkillers, a referral to a NHS Physiotherapist or potentially a MRI scan or X-Ray. It's important to be aware that if an issue is seen on the scan - such as a disc issue - this may not be the cause of the pain, as many "age-related" issues, such as disc problems or osteoporosis, can be present without causing pain.
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Seeing a physiotherapist will often result in exercise and lifestyle advice around movement and health; physiotherapy in general and NHS physiotherapy in particular is moving towards a more "hands off" approach and focusing on movement and strength.
Massage and other hands on therapies are very popular for sciatica and sciatic pain.
At State 11, we've found that traditional Swedish massage and even sports massage, while pleasant, is slow to treat sciatica pain, resulting in clients needing multiple appointments before they see a noticeable difference.
This was unacceptable to us, so we treat sciatica using RAPID NeuroFascial Reset, a revolutionary, hands-on, manual therapy technique from Canada. We're one of only a handful of RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Specialists in the UK. Where suitable, we may also use cupping, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation, and taping to help even more.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY:
REAL REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU!
Melissa says:
I've been to Greg 3 times over the last 18 months, he always puts me at ease, cures my aches and pains in my back and makes me laugh with his humour. I never feel pressured to make more appointments and he always gives great advice on exercises and prevention of further injury.
Stef says:
I've just been to see Greg and already feel so much better - after just one session! Truly amazing and obviously knows what he's doing; he even managed to get some movement out my hips!! A really lovely, normal, down to earth chap who is passionate about his craft and is now on my "regulars" list. Thank you, Greg, see you soon.
Jay says:
I arrived not being able to move my neck at all, Greg was awesome, he just keeps talking and before you know it you can move again...I felt rough for a couple of days then better than I have in such a long time!
Appointments to deal with your aches and pains cost £60 and last between forty minutes to an hour.
Because we're RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Specialists, our treatment is aimed at pain relief and movement restoration, not relaxation.
You don't need to remove your clothes, and you're welcome to bring a friend.
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We treat children with a parent present.
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