HAVE SCIATICA? MASSAGE CAN HELP!

What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a pain that radiates along the length of the sciatic nerve, according to MayoClinic. The sciatic nerve can be found from the lower back down the whole legs and goes through the hips and buttocks, as well. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the whole body. It is made up a large amount of nerve roots from the spine that combine at the lower back to form what we call the "sciatic nerve." Commonly, sciatica pain only happens on one side of a person's body.

Why Does it Happen?
Sciatica happens in patients with herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and an assortment of other back, spine, and hip conditions. Another common cause of sciatica pain is pregnancy. It is important to note that sciatica is not a medical diagnosis in and of itself, according to Spine-Health. In fact, sciatica is generally considered a symptom of many conditions including the ones listed above. 

When one is experiencing certain conditions, the large sciatic nerve can become irritated or compressed. This leads to what is commonly known as sciatica. Sciatic generally happens during middle age between 40 to 50. It is extremely rare for a person under 25 to experience sciatica symptoms. 

Almost all cases of sciatica are temporary meaning they last up to two weeks at a time. However, there are some cases that are very severe and debilitating that can last for extended amounts of time. 

Symptoms of Sciatica 
The most common and obvious symptom of sciatica is moderate to severe pain from the lower back down to the feet on one side. However, this is often not the only symptom of sciatica. Other symptoms include weakness, tingling, limited range of motion, and numbness in the same leg, according to WebMD. One may also experience a worsening of symptoms from sitting or standing for a long period of time and from any exercises that cause the spine to flex at all. On the other hand, one many feel a relief of symptoms while walking, lying down, or during any exercises that extend the spine. 

Treatments of Sciatica
In extremely severe cases, surgery may be the best option to help relieve the symptoms of sciatica. However, this is a very little percentage of sciatica cases. 

Most people with sciatica are prescribed anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medication and sent home, according to Cleveland Clinic. Although uncomfortable, sciatica is not a life threatening or severely debilitating condition in most people, so it often goes untreated by medical practitioners. Some doctors may recommend physical therapy and massage therapy as an option to try and increase range of motion, which will evidently reduce pain. 

Massage and Sciatica
There are three main ways that massage can help treat the symptoms of sciatica- increase range of motion, loosen lower back muscles, and release pain-relieving endorphins. 
Like was mentioned above, massage can help to increase the range of motion between the hips and legs. Increasing the limited range of motion cause by sciatica can help to reduce the stress and strain on the muscles. This can help lead to pain relief due to the relaxation of those overworked muscles.

The second way that massage can help with sciatica is by loosening the lower back muscles. When the low back muscles are tight, it can cause pressure and strain on the nerve roots associated with the sciatic nerve, according to Spine-Health. By receiving a massage, the therapist can work on loosening the lower back muscles, which can reduce the amount of strain on the sciatic nerve roots. Thus, reducing and preventing the pinch, strain, and pain of the sciatic nerve.

Releasing pain-relieving endorphins will also help with sciatica, by just that- relieving pain. According to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, massage has been proven to release multiple neurohormones and endorphins, which leads to a significant decrease in pain and stress. Massage can also help to decrease levels of cortisol, which aid in the lowering of stress. No one is relaxed when they are in pain, so this can help to lower the effects of sciatica pain on one's emotional and mental well-being. 

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