What Is Sciatica?
While sciatica has become a catch all term for any pain that goes down the leg, technically, sciatica is actually inflammation of the sciatic nerve, and it’s very common as people start getting older to get pain in the sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that comes down the back of the leg, originating as a bundle of nerves from the spine. Pressure on the sciatic nerve or inflammation of the sciatic nerve can cause radiating pain to go down the leg. More commonly sciatic pain is down just one leg, but can be down both legs.
What causes sciatica?
It can be caused by problems like disc issues in the back, or by inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms of sciatica can be very intense pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the lower back and leg, all the way down to the toes.
How Can You Treat Sciatica Without Painkillers, Injections Or Surgery?
If people have sciatic pain, they often think that they have to stretch their hamstring, which is not something that Caren would recommend. If muscles get tight, it’s because the brain is signaling that there’s danger in movement.
It doesn’t mean that the muscle needs to be stretched out to loosen it up. What it means is that the root cause of the muscle tightness needs to be located and taken care of so that the brain can take off the brakes on that part of the body. When the brain ‘puts the brakes on’, the muscles go into tension or spasm to prevent further movement to protect the body.
So, for those suffering with sciatica, Caren does not recommend stretching out the hamstrings and advises avoiding sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Could it be something else?
Another type of pain that Caren sees commonly alongside sciatica is femoral nerve pain. The femoral nerve comes down from the front of the groin towards the knee, travelling down the front of the thigh.
What is femoral nerve pain?
Some of the symptoms that people with femoral nerve pain see are decreased sensation, numbness, tingling, burning, or sharp shooting pains.
Sometimes it can present as weakness of the leg, where the leg will give way, causing many to think that the cause of their pain is a pulled muscle.
What can I do if i’m suffering from these?
Treatment for femoral nerve pain is often fast and straightforward, meaning those affected should not suffer with pain – seeking the right treatment can get you out of pain very quickly.
The most important recommendation that Caren has is to see a skilled physical therapist that can make a difference and start the healing process. If you’re suffering with sciatic or femoral nerve pain, Caren Lieberman is regarded by many as the leading nerve pain expert in Studio City, LA with a passion for helping people get out of pain quickly, and is ready to help you on your journey to relief.