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Sciatica

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest and biggest nerve in the body, starting in the base of the back and runs as far as the big toe. The pain can be felt along the course of the nerve – in the foot, back of the leg from the hip down to the ankle and in the lower back. It can cause pins and needles or numbness in the lower leg and foot. It can also cause weakness in the leg.

How does osteopathy help?

An osteopath can help reduce the inflammation and tight muscles in the area by gently releasing the tight tissues and increasing the blood supply to and from the area. This can reduce the nerve irritation. An osteopath will look at the whole body and treat any other restrictions that may be compromising the body’s compensatory mechanism.

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How many sessions?
This is very individual and depends on factors such as your age and the condition of your body. Some people only need one or two sessions whereas others need many more over a longer period of time.

Will it hurt?
Some of the techniques used may be uncomfortable.

Will I be sore after the treatment?

Some people are sore the day or two afterwards. They compare it to a soreness you can get after doing exercise you are not used to. This is normal since your body is re-adjusting.

What causes Sciatica?

It can be caused by a disc bulge or a herniated disc in your lumbar spine. The inflammation around the disc can irritate the sciatic nerve or it can be directly pressed on by the disc. It can be caused by a tight muscle in your buttock called the piriformis, which the sciatic nerve passes through. It can also be caused by pregnancy due to the weight of the foetus, as well as more rarely by tumors and infections.

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