Acupuncture for Sciatica
Sciatica is a leading cause of low back, hip and leg pain. It’s quite common and is one of the issues we treat most in our practice. Sciatic pain is caused by compression or irritation along the pathway of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back and sacrum all the way down to the foot. Pain usually is felt in the lower back or the glutes and radiates down the leg. The pain can range from dull and throbbing to sharp and electric. In addition to pain, there may be numbness, tingling and weakness in the leg.
Pathway of the sciatic nerve and region of pain.
The most common causes of sciatica we encounter in our clinic are piriformis and deep gluteal syndrome. These syndromes occur when muscles in the hip compress the sciatic nerve and its associated branches, causing intense pain. Other causes include disc herniation and spinal degeneration. During your appointment we walk you through an orthopedic assessment to better understand what’s causing your sciatica. Further evaluation with imaging may be necessary, if disc herniation, degeneration or another cause is a suspected cause.
The piriformis muscle (and other muscles in the hip like the gluteus medius) can impinge on the sciatic nerve and its branches.
Acupuncture is a research-backed treatment for sciatica.¹,² It can provide excellent relief without the side effects of medication or risks of surgery. Evidence suggests that it is more effective than NSAIDs in alleviating associated pain.² Contrary to pain medication, in the case of piriformis or deep gluteal syndrome, acupuncture can address the root cause of sciatica. In these cases, acupuncture can bring relief through gentle, manual release of the muscle impinging upon the sciatic nerve. In cases of sciatica involving degeneration and disc herniation, acupuncture can address sciatic pain by attenuating inflammation, improving circulation and modulating the body’s pain response.
In any case, a course of acupuncture can make a big difference in making an effective recovery from sciatica. Questions about your pain? Contact us at hello@alamereacupuncture.com
1. Lewis RA, Williams NH, Sutton AJ, et al. Comparative clinical effectiveness of management strategies for sciatica: systematic review and network meta-analyses. Spine J. Jun 1 2015;15(6):1461-77. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2013.08.049
2. Qin Z, Liu X, Wu J, Zhai Y, Liu Z. Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Treating Sciatica: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:425108. doi:10.1155/2015/425108