Sciatica is pain resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica
pain is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down
below the knee. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and begins
from nerve roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the low back and extends through
the buttock area to send nerve endings down the lower limb.
You may feel sciatica in different ways, including:
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Pain that travels from the
low back, through the buttocks, downward into the leg, and sometimes into
the foot.
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Shooting pain down your leg —
sometimes described as like electricity.
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Pain and other symptoms may
be constant and vary from mild to severe.
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Burning and tingling
sensations in your leg.
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Partial leg numbness or
weakness.
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Pain, burning, tingling,
numbness, or weakness on only one side of your lower body.
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Sitting, trying to stand up,
and walking may be painful and difficult.
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Coughing, sneezing, and other
sudden movements can intensify pain.
Allopathic medicine often treats sciatica with physical therapy and pain
medication or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These drugs
provide short-term pain relief but also decrease blood circulation to the
muscles and joints. NSAIDs have potential side effects such as liver damage and
gastric irritation.
Although acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide
variety of painful conditions, only recently has it become scientifically
recognized as an effective pain therapy. Acupuncture causes the body to produce
natural steroids and promotes the production of natural endorphins. Steroids
decrease inflammation, while endorphins produced by the body reduce pain. By
alleviating pain, acupuncture decreases use of pain medications and reduces
recovery time.
If you suffer from sciatica pain, acupuncture can offer sciatica pain relief
naturally and with no adverse side effects. The sooner the treatment begins,
the quicker the Sciatica pain relieves. If you would like to pursue this form
of treatment or information, please contact Xiaoyan.
Sciatica
