Sciatic Pain in the Bum – how many of you suffer with sciatica? Well, meet the culprit. This is your sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It is formed by the union of 5 nerve roots from the lower spine.
Our sciatc nerve passes deep in the buttock and down the back of our thighs all the way to the heel and sole of the foot.
It has a vital role in connecting the spinal cord with the skin and muscles of the
- thigh
- leg
- foot.
Sciatic Pain in the Bum – who is at risk?
People in certain occupations may be at a higher risk of developing sciatic pain. Those who tend to sit for long periods of time, such as:
- people leading a sedentary lifestyle
- office workers
- truck drivers
may find themselves suffering, especially if their posture is poor.
Furthermore, you may also find you suffer if you:
- do lots of weight training
- frequent bending of the spine in a forward or sideways movement
- lots of lifting the arms above shoulder level.
Sciatic Pain in the Bum – Suffering
People suffer from sciatic pain in different ways. Some may experience a shooting pain, like an electric shock, from their buttock and down the leg.
Others may experience throbbing pain or constant dull ache. Along with these symptoms, you may experience weakness in the leg and foot muscles or numbness in the lower leg and foot.
What causes sciatica?
So what causes it? There are several reasons why it occurs. It could be from issues with the spine, such as:
- narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back
- degenerative disc disease
- pregnancy
- muscle spasm in the back or buttocks.
The most common muscle that can cause sciatic pain is the piriformis, which is found deep in the buttocks. If this muscle spasms, it can press on the nerve, causing the pain we all know and love!!
Massage Therapy for Sciatica
Sports massage therapy is an effective way to relieve pain. A 2014 study even found that deep tissue massage my be as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibruprofen, Nurofen) for relieving low back pain. This of course can be a symptom of sciatica!!
Massage can help in two ways. The main benefit is soothing tense muscles.
When muscles are tense, they can put more pressure on your nerves, including your sciatic nerve.
Massaging these tense muscles may help reduce pressure on your sciatic nerve. Soft tissue massage may also help increase your pain threshold by stimulating the release of endorphins.
Endorphins boost pleasure and relieve pain, causing an increased feeling of wellbeing.
Sciatica – Stretching
Stretching the piriformis muscle can also help relieve the pain. Your massage therapist will be able to apply stretches to help release the spasmed muscle. In addition your therapist will give you stretches and exercises you can do yourself to help ease the pain and symptoms.
If you suffer with sciatic pain, why not drop me a message, book in for a massage. Let’s get rid of your pain in the bum!!
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