Sciatica

Sciatica pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You may feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow one of these routes:

From your lower back to your knee
From the midbuttock to the outside of your calf, the top of your foot and into the space between your last two toes
From the inside of your calf to your inner ankle

The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze. Usually only one lower extremity is affected.

In addition to pain, you may also experience:

Numbness or muscle weakness along the nerve pathway in your leg or foot. In some cases, you may have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another.
Tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling. This occurs most commonly in your toes or part of your foot.
A loss of bladder or bowel control. This is a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition that requires emergency care. If you experience either of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

The pain associated with sciatica follows almost exactly, the path of the urinary bladder meridian in Chinese medicine, from the lower back all the way down to the foot. When there is pain along that line, it suggests to the acupuncturist that the "Qi," (pronounced "chee") energy is stagnated there and needs to be helped along in its circulation. What is causing the stagnation of the Qi energy can be one of many factors such as wind, damp, cold, or heat, as I mentioned prior. The fact that it occurs in the urinary bladder's meridian doesn't actually suggest that there is anything wrong with the patient's bladder. Its the same thing as understanding that a pinched nerve doesn't mean that you have a problem with your brain, even though the two are connected.

Sciatica due to an invasion of wind, cold or dampness. - Pain is aggravated by overcast or rainy weather. The quality of the sciatica pain could include a heaviness, numbness and/or cold sensation along the pain pathway.
Sciatica due to deficiency of the Liver and Kidney - Sciatica pain along with listlessness and weakness in the knees and lower back. This is usually a long term condition.
Obstruction of the channels by the stagnation of blood due to local trauma.
Sciatica pain that follows a fall, or accident where the leg or lower back has been injured.

Traditional Chinese medicine can quickly treat the symptoms of pain associated with the pinching of the sciatic nerve as it leaves the spinal cord in the lower back.

Acupuncture points along the pathway of the pain are treated. This helps move the Qi energy locally. Sometimes other points in the body are also used to treat the damp, cold or wind that may have spread out into the rest of the body including into the urinary bladder meridian.

According to the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain is resulted from the blockage of vital energy within the body meridians, preventing the free flow of circulation. When this occurs, energy cannot supply the vital elements to the surrounding tissues of the blockage for nourishment and thus cause pain. With a pattern of acupuncture points along the meridians of which are blocked, acupuncture treatment can successfully remove the blockage to restore the free flow of energy to relieve pain. With proper treatment, pain can be alleviated within a short period of time.

Acupressure coupled with acupuncture can treat not only the symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling but also get to the root of your problem.

It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, but the following suggestions can play a key role in protecting your back:

Exercise regularly. This is the most important thing you can do for your overall health as well as for your back. Pay special attention to your core muscles - the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment. Yoga and Pilates - an exercise technique for total body conditioning and rehabilitation - may be particularly helpful in keeping these muscles strong. For cardiovascular benefits, try using a stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical trainer or cross-country ski machine. Cycling outdoors is also recommended, but be sure your seat and handlebars are adjusted properly.
Maintain proper posture when you sit. A good chair should comfortably support your hips and the seat shouldn't press on the back of your thighs or knees. If the chair doesn't support the natural curve in your lower spine, place a rolled towel or pillow behind your back. When working at a computer, adjust your chair so that your feet are flat on the floor and your arms rest on your desk or the chair's arms, with your elbows bent at a right angle. Take frequent breaks, even if it's just to walk around your office. When you drive, adjust your seat to keep your knees and hips level, and move the seat forward to avoid overreaching for the pedals.
Use good body mechanics. Being conscious of how you stand, lift heavy objects and even how you sleep can go a long way toward keeping your back healthy. That's because poor posture stresses your back, leading to fatigue and stress on joints and nerves. If you stand for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. While you stand, hold reading material at eye level instead of bending forward.

	Service the San Francisco Bay Area since 1994. Voted the best acupuncturist in Sunnyvale!