Nowadays its increasingly common to suffer from sciatica, a painful back condition the result of a pinched nerve. Sciatica may cause severe mobility problems and debilitating pain. In serious cases, the situation can lead to progressive lower body weakness, numbness in the top of thighs, and/or loss of bladder or bowel get a handle on.
The most common cause of sciatic pain:
The most common diagnosed cause of sciatica is a herniated disc that presses on the sciatic nerve. Any pressure or irritation of the sciatic nerve at any point can cause pain whether the supply of the irritation is an adjacent muscle, bone, or cyst.
The secret muscle, which often causes sciatic pain:
In many cases, the explanation for sciatica pain is actually a tight or misaligned muscle.
The piriformis muscle extends from the front of the sacrum through the pelvic cavity to attach towards the top of the femur and covers part of the sciatic nerve. Because it’s woven through bone and other muscles, it can be missed when diagnosing sciatica.
Piriformis syndrome does occur when the piriformis constricts the sciatic nerve and other nerves in the gluteus. A qualified massage therapist, chiropractor or osteopathic medical practitioner is well aware that the misaligned piriformis can cause various types of pain in the lower right back and extremities
Easy way to treat sciatic pain:
Muscles are supposed to move-the piriformis no exception. Stretching does wonders for releasing constriction and tension, ergo reducing inflammation and/or misalignment, and relieving nerve pain consequently. Below are two exercises that target the piriformis:
– Lie in your back along with your legs flat. Pull the affected leg up toward the chest, holding your left knee with your left hand and grasping the ankle with the other hand. Leading by the ankle, pull the knee towards your opposite leg before you feel a light stretch-do not force the ankle or knee beyond the stretch. Support the stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly return to the starting position. Repeat 3 x.
2. Lie on the floor with the affected leg crossed over the other leg at the knees and both legs bent. Gently pull the lower knee up toward the shoulder on the same side of the human body until the stretch is felt. Hold stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly come back to starting position. Repeat 3 times.
