Sciatica is a type of pain that radiates down the path of the sciatica nerve which branches from your lower back, through the back of the hips, and down the back of the leg - usually on one side (but sometimes both legs are involved) - and sometimes even as far down as the foot. It most commonly occurs when a disk herniation, a bone spur on the spine, or sometimes narrowing of the spine (known as spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve.
The pain can be anywhere from mild to severe, in the form of an ache, a sharp stabbing, an electric like jolt, or a burning sensation, sometimes even numbness and tingling. The good news is that in most cases sciatica will go away over time.
However, symptoms similar to the above can often be confused or mis-diagnosed and the real culprit is what we sometimes refer to as ‘pseudo-sciatica’.... So what is it???
Pseudo-Sciatica or ‘fake-sciatica’ is a condition that closely mimics the symptoms of sciatica without any structural damage, like a disc herniation or bone spur - rather, symptoms present themselves due the nerve being pinched or compressed due to a host of other possible reasons, such as:
Muscle tension or inflammation - the piriformis muscles are deep hip muscles (under the gluteus maximus) and aid in stabilisation of the hips, and support movement of the lower body and posture. The piriformis muscles are very close to the sciatic nerve and when inflamed can compress it triggering several types of radiating pain similar to sciatica.
Trigger points in the Gluteus Minimus - Trigger points can be described as highly irritated muscle knots which can become inflamed due to weakness, over use, or lifting heavy objects. They are usually found in weak, overloaded, or fatigued muscles. Trigger points in the Gluteus minimus - a fan shaped muscle deep in the hips - can also cause pain down the leg, though these trigger points are less likely to refer pain all the way to the foot
Poor Posture - poor posture such as when sitting curled over towards a computer for long spans of time, especially with the head protruding, can cause similar symptoms to sciatica.
Luckily, massage can be a very effective treatment for the symptoms of pseudo-sciatica and even classic or standard sciatica. By addressing trigger points in the muscles, employing techniques to relax the various tissues, and helping the body return to a more balanced posture we can help reduce the effects of all the above symptoms, leading to a more mobile, and hopefully, pain free life.
Please note that even though therapeutic massage can help, make sure to consult your GP if the above symptoms present.
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