When the sciatic nerve is irritated, it can cause pain, numbness, and pins and needles down the back of the thigh and side of the shin. These symptoms can be called sciatica- but only when caused by this nerve.
Hamstring injuries, for example, can be mistaken for sciatica. Your osteopath can do some simple tests to work out whether your pain comes from the nerve or not. Symptoms include:
- Pain anywhere from the lower back and buttock to the back of the thigh, back and side of the calf, and sole of the foot
- Pins and needles in the same area
- Numbness or weakness in the leg
- Pain that is shooting, sharp, or like a tooth ache
What causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is a relatively common complaint, and there are a few ways it can be caused. A bulging disc is a well known potential cause of sciatic nerve irritation. However, this is not the only cause, and when a disc does bulge, it does not stay that way forever. Nor do all bulging discs cause symptoms. By the age of 40, roughly half of the population have at least one disc bulge; under 50% of over-40s have lower back pain or sciatica.
Sometimes the nerve is directly compressed by a muscle, such as the piriformis muscle. This is a deep gluteal muscle, and its interaction with the sciatic nerve varies from person to person. Some people have a sciatic nerve that runs straight through the muscle, whereas for others they just run close by. Tension in the muscle can be enough to irritate the nerve, which can cause a vicious cycle of pain and tension. This is Piriformis Syndrome.
Piriformis Syndrome
The piriformis muscle is a deep muscle in the buttock. For some people the sciatic nerve runs nearby, but for others the nerve pierces the muscle and runs through it. Both of these variations are normal, and it’s not necessary to know which one you have, even if you have sciatica. Because of the close proximity of the muscle to the nerve, piriformis can cause sciatic irritation.
The muscles in the buttock can become tight due to a change in activity such as picking up a new sport, or balance changes such as pregnancy. Your osteopath can give you some easy exercises to prevent tightness if you have changes on the horizon. Fortunately, piriformis syndrome is easy to address. The muscles themselves are generally responsive to treatment, and there are plenty of exercises you can do between sessions to keep tension under control.
Treatment
For nerve irritation we want to address the symptoms and the cause. The longer a nerve is irritated for, the more sensitised it can become, so your osteopath will take your history into account when devising a treatment plan.
We may use massage and stretching techniques to address any tight muscles involved. These may be direct factors in your symptoms, or secondary effects. When muscles are tight, they tend to limit nearby joint movement too. Gentle articulation techniques or stronger manipulation (clicking) may be appropriate depending on your exact case.
If you have the symptoms of sciatica or would like to prevent an episode of it, make an appointment here.
