By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
We discussed this topic last year but since many were not able to read it, here it is again.
Sciatica is a common ailment. It refers to the pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, located at the lower back and extending to the buttocks and down to each leg. Its important that we understand the sciatic nerve and the spine cord and spine. The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the body. It is actually a bundle of nerves that come from 5 nerve roots branching off from the spinal cord at the lower back. If you remember your biology, the spinal cord is encased by the spinal vertebrae (dulig) so when we massage our back what we can feel is the spine or the “dulig”, but not the nerves coming out from in between the vertebrae. Gifted massage therapists, however, can feel the nerves. There are two sciatic nerves, one in the right side and the other on the left. Each sciatic nerve runs through your hip and buttock down to the just below the knee where it splits into many other nerves that supply the lower leg, foot and toes.
Usually, sciatica pain is described as burning or shooting like an electric shock, often radiating down the leg and usually aggravated by coughing, sneezing, walking or lifting your legs upward when lying on your back. Sometimes, this pain is accompanied by numbness, tingling or muscle weakness.
Sciatica is caused by anything that presses on the sciatic nerve like slipped disk, arthritis, tumors or cysts, injuries. A slipped disk means that the spinal disk gets out of its cushion and presses on the nearby spinal nerve. The spinal disk is the rubbery cushion in between the vertebrae or dulig. A slipped disk is usually caused by wrong way of lifting.
Risk factors for sciatica are as follows:
1. Injury to the spine or lower back
2. Excess weight – the more weight, the more your muscles have to work causing back strain, pain, etc.
3. Physical inactivity – sitting for long periods and lack of physical activity, frequent driving
4. Poor posture and form when lifting.
5. Insufficient core strength- your core is the term for the muscles of your back and stomach area which are important because they help anchor your back muscles. They act like a brace for your back.
6. Smoking damages blood vessels thus affecting blood circulation. Anything that hampers blood circulation is bad for your health.
Knowing that sciatica comes from a pinched or compressed nerve or nerves, the goal of treatment is to remove the thing that causes compression or at least reduce it, ease the pain and increase mobility. The good news is that milder cases of sciatica get better with self treatment. Pain that is moderate to severe, with numbness, tingling or muscle weakness need professional medical help.
Treatment options include:
1. Some respond to warm compresses only and some to cold compresses only. Some to alternate hot and cold compresses. Whatever relieves pain.
2. Low impact activities like walking, swimming.
3. Proper stretching- learn from an experienced instructor
4. Therapeutic massage , pranic healing
5. Physical therapy
6. Acupuncture
7. Chiropractic
8. Yoga
9. Painkillers, but only when really necessary.
10. Proper diet, of course, to decrease weight and reverse co-existing diseases.
Surgery maybe a last option when sciatica is severe and if surgery will help decompress the nerve.
Sciatica can be prevented – just address the risk factors mentioned above. In other words, have a healthy lifestyle- meaning take good care of yourself, proper diet and enough physical activity, proper posture. Nothing new. And that’s the good news!**
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“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2
