Sciatica Pain Relief - Causes and Treatment Options

What causes pain and what is the source of pain are two different matters. However, these two matters, conceptually become jumbled up into one. We should always separate these two as they are profoundly different. Causes can be infinite. The way you think, feel, move, or rest may cause the pain. Therefore “causes of pain” may be infinite. The source of pain may be local to the place of pain, irritating local pain fibers, or much further away, resulting in the need for further investigation and categorization of the pain if long-lasting results, or results at all, are the desired outcome.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve within the body and is composed of 5 nerve roots (L4, L5, S1, S2, S3) which form a trunk. These nerves merge deep in buttock – roughly around the piriformis muscle. Because of this piriformis syndrome is drastically overused as a diagnosis.

Often, symptoms associated with the sciatic nerve are considered mechanical in nature; however, there may be many causes as to why the sciatic nerve can become irritated or inflamed (Nutritional Pillar).

Sciatica is largely thought of as a “pinched nerve.” While this is true, it is also not true. When discussing nerve pain – anywhere in the body – there are two types of nerve pain – container dependent and container independent. Container dependent is the often referred to as “pinched nerve.” It means something is putting compression on an aspect of the nerve somewhere. Container independent nerve pain refers to the chemistry or nutrition flowing within the nerve. Many do not realize but there is a flow of chemicals within a nerve called the axoplasmic flow. This is not quite the same as flow of nutrients within blood vessels, but the analogy helps to understand how nerves have a flow. Whenever sciatica is container dependent, it is often due to the “pinch” occurring within the lumbar spine – AKA lower back.

These are a few common diagnoses we screen and treat for regarding back symptoms and sciatica. This list is not exhaustive as many symptoms and concerns do not have great diagnoses.

1. Lumbago
2. Herniated Disc
3. Sciatica
4. Maigne Syndrome
5. Piriformis Syndrome
6. Meralgia Paresthetica
7. Myofascial Trigger Points
8. Femoral Nerve Entrapment
9. Facet Arthropathy
10. Spinal Stenosis
11. Ankylosing Spondylitis
12. Arthritis
13. Spondylosis
14. Radiculopathy
15. Scoliosis
16. Myalgia

By offering our various programs we can quickly assess and test what is driving your symptoms and in turn providing quick options for care. Because of this, we will not only speed up recovery, but decrease overall expenses.