How to Treat Sciatica Long-Term

Sciatica is a common condition characterized by pain, numbness, or tingling along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down to the legs. Understanding sciatica and how to treat it is crucial for recovery and improving quality of life. In this article, we will present effective methods for relieving symptoms and preventing the recurrence of pain.

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What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a pain that starts in the lower back and radiates through the buttocks and down the legs, caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. People suffering from sciatica often seek permanent solutions for relief and to prevent the pain from recurring.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Common symptoms of sciatica include:

  • Severe pain in the lower back, buttocks, and legs.
  • Numbness or a “pins and needles” sensation in the leg.
  • Weakness or difficulty moving the leg or foot.
  • Pain that worsens with sitting, walking, or lifting objects.

3 Ways to Treat Sciatica

While the pain is often felt in the lower back, most treatments for sciatica focus only on the area of pain. Therefore, treatment typically addresses only the symptoms.

To treat sciatica long-term, however, you need to examine the chain of muscles connected to your pelvis and lower back area. Essentially, you should view your body as a system.

Sciatica and lower back pain are problems that significantly affect the quality of life. A comprehensive and effective approach includes myofascial release, spinal decompression, and improving walking mechanics.

The methods outlined below can help restore balance to the lumbopelvic-hip complex (known as LPHC).

1.Myofascial Release

The goal of myofascial release is to help you regain mobility and allow the tissues to rehydrate. Once these tissues regain hydration, they will function better with the surrounding muscles and other tissues, ultimately helping to relieve sciatic nerve pain. Myofascial release of specific muscles can assist in treating sciatic nerve pain and improving mobility.

μυοπεριτονιακή απελευθέρωση myofascial release
Rectus femoris myofascial release.

Key muscles for myofascial release include the Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL), rectus femoris, and gluteal muscles.

-Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL)

According to Naudi Aguilar’s book The Power of Posture, the TFL is critical for pelvic balance. When the TFL is tight, it can hold the pelvis in a dysfunctional position, preventing proper function of the gluteal muscles. Releasing this muscle can help combat the tendency for your pelvis to stay stuck in one position, allowing the glutes to function properly.

-Rectus Femor

Located at the front of the thigh, the rectus femoris may become tight due to prolonged sitting or exercises like squats and lunges done improperly. This muscle dominates when you stand or walk, preventing activation of the posterior chain muscles and causing improper tension in the lower back area.

-Gluteus Maximus and Minimus

This complex of gluteal muscles tends to become overactive as compensation for the rectus femoris. It’s important to hydrate these tissues through myofascial release so they begin to create space for the sciatic nerve.

2. Spinal Decompression

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GETTING TO KNOW THE SPINE

The spinal column consists of three main elements:

  1. The bony structures called vertebrae
  2. Intervertebral discs: round cushions designed to absorb shock between each vertebra
  3. The spinal canal, which contains the spinal cord made of nerve tissue

From this description, it’s easy to see how compression of a specific area of the spine can cause severe pain. It’s important to understand that the spine is not a rigid structure; it should be able to flex and extend at certain levels, and also rotate. Any imbalances in these movements can lead to problems.

If you tend to stay in poor posture, such as a rounded upper back (called kyphosis), the upper part of your spine cannot straighten on its own. This lack of extension can lead to changes in the lower spine, such as in the lumbar region.

Myofascial release, as mentioned earlier, is the first step in hydrating certain tissues in your body to help align your spine.

Benefits of Spinal Decompression

  1. Reduced Pressure on Discs: Decompression helps alleviate pressure caused by herniated discs or other spinal issues.
  2. Improved Circulation: Decompression enhances blood flow and nutrient delivery to the tissues of the spine.
  3. Pain and Numbness Relief: Reducing pressure on nerves can ease pain and numbness in the lower back and legs.

3. Corrective Exercises to Improve Walking Mechanics

Humans have evolved through four primary functions: Posture, Walking, Running, and Throwing. The better you can perform these functions, the closer you are to a pain-free life. If you focus on improving your walking mechanics, you can permanently get rid of sciatica. The more you treat your body as a system, connecting its entire structure (muscles, bones, fascia), the less tension there will be on tissues in your lower back.

Improving the coordination of all body muscles when walking is key to correcting sciatica in a sustainable way. This approach is much more beneficial and holistic than focusing solely on lower back stretches.

Conclusion

It is possible to permanently heal sciatica and return to a life without pain. To achieve this, you must step away from the conventional route of isolating stretches for the sciatic nerve or treatments that focus only on the pain area.

Start viewing your body as a system, not just the pain symptoms. This is the way to begin effectively and long-term correcting your pain.

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