Sciatica
Do You Think You Have Sciatica?
If your sciatic nerve becomes inflamed, the condition is called sciatica (pronounced si-ad-i-ka). The pain can be intense! It often follows the path of your nerve down the back of your legs and thighs, ankle, foot and toes, but it can also radiate to your back. Along with burning and sharp pains, you may also feel nerve sensations such as pins-and-needles, tingling, tenderness or even numbness.
The quality of pain may vary. There may be constant throbbing, but then it may let up for hours or even days. It may ache or be knife-like. Sometimes postural changes, like lying down or changing positions, affect the pain, and sometimes they don’t. In severe cases, sciatica can cause a loss of reflexes or even a wasting of your calf muscles. For sciatica sufferers, a good night’s sleep may be a thing of the past. Simple things like walking, sitting, or standing up can be difficult or impossible but don’t worry we can help.
We take a different approach to the treatment and prevention of sciatica.
After a thorough neurological examination we determine which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly.
“I have treated hundreds of sciatica cases, and I can personally tell you that proper and effective treatment requires a multi-faceted approach”.
Ankle imbalances can cause improper leg rotation and pelvic imbalances that create stress on the sciatic nerve
Since there are many combinations of causes, a good doctor must be able to address all of them. For example, ankle pronation (collapsing of the arch) can lead to pressure on the knee and rotation of the hip that can lead to a misalignment of the pelvis. Everything connects together. If one joint misaligns, it works it’s way up. This can cause a pulling or stress on the sciatic nerve as it is exiting the spine. Another cause can be two vertebra in the low back that twist in opposite directions or tilt which can put stress on the discscausing pressure on an exiting nerve root that is part of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve travels through muscles, and if those muscles become tight they can also compress the nerves. It can certainly be complicated and to think your only alternative is medication or surgery is utterly absurd! Weak abdominal muscles and back extensors can also greatly contribute and flexibility/strengthening exercises are essential for thorough results. We utilize Pilates Based Physical Therapy Rehabilitation for difficult cases.
Best results require complete structural evaluation of the feet, knee, hips, pelvis, sacrum, lumbar spineand muscle evaluation for hidden weakness and spasm compressing the nerve. Wow!!
A slipped or herniated disc can put pressure on exiting nerve roots. These nerve roots converge to form the sciatic nerve that travels down the leg
In some sciatica patients we may find that the top part of the brainstem called the mesencephalon is over-firing. An over-firing mesencephalon will cause an increased pulse and heart rate, insomnia or restless sleep, urinary tract infection, increase warmth
or sweating, sensitivity to light and chronic pain. Increased firing of the mesencephalon can also lead to increased sensitivity of the all the nerves of your body (the sciatic nerve). This is almost always associated with a decreased output of the cerebellum.
The cerebellum is in the back part of the brain, and it controls all of the involuntary spinal musculature that can lead to chronic spasms and muscular imbalances. Treatment would than require Brain Based Therapy geared towards stimulating the central nervous system responsible for ‘turning on’ the pain sensing nerves in your body. No matter what is causing your condition, it is imperative that we perform a thorough neurological and comprehensive exam to determine the exact nature of your condition.
To make an appointment, call my office today at 916-925-2007.
