Can sciatica go away
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a term used to describes the symptoms resulting from sciatic nerve compression, happening anywhere along the path of the sciatic nerve (the sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the body and it runs from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down the back of each leg).
Common sciatica symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness anywhere along the path of the sciatic nerve on its way down to the foot.
Causes of sciatica
I’ve written a previous post on this matter so I’ll share the link to that post here and I won’t elaborate too much in today’s blog post.
In a really simplistic way, sciatica can be caused by different pathologies of the spine causing a compression of the sciatic nerve at that spinal level (i.e. bulging disc, degenerative disorders, direct trauma or spinal stenosis, between others)
or…
it can be caused by soft tissue restrictions and imbalances (this is the most common presentation of sciatica which also has a better prognosis).
The fact that soft tissue related sciatica has a better prognosis it doesn’t mean it will always go away on its own. Sure, it occasionally goes away on its own but more often than not, soft tissue related sciatica needs the intervention of a myotherapist or soft tissue release therapist that can release the soft tissue and help rebalance the myofascial system.
Can sciatica go away
Sciatica symptoms can be quite scary due to its close relationship with spinal presentations.
It’s important to know that in more cases than not sciatica is caused by imbalance in the soft tissue, staying calm and seeking advise from a medical professional to rule out any problems at spinal level.
Once any spinal issues have been cleared and the green flag given by the doctor, action is still required in many cases to release the pain and other symptoms as well as to prevent the issue escalating into something more serious; stopping here though is the mistake most people make, due to lack of knowing any better in most cases. Some try to find help but fail to find the right professional.
A specialist myotherapist will be able to effectively treat any soft tissue related cause for your symptoms as well as working on returning your myofascial system to a more balanced state; this will prevent escalating of the presentation as well as increase general wellbeing, performance, tissue hydration etc.
Our most effective treatment method to releasing soft tissue related sciatica symptoms?
In our Brighton and Hove clinic we treat sciatica using a combination of Myofascial Release therapy and Trigger Point therapy together with other soft tissue techniques. This combined approach to treatment has shown to be really effective in the treatment of sciatica.
What’s Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release Therapy is a specialised hands-on treatment approach that focuses on the fascia – a continuous web-like connective tissue network in our body with structural properties.
The fascia can become restricted due to injury, stress, inflammation, or poor posture, which can lead to pain and limited mobility.
During treatment, therapists use firm slow strokes, skin rolling techniques, and myofascial holds where they work the tissue indirectly.
The effectiveness of Myofascial Release heavily depends on the therapist’s ability to assess and feel for restrictions. When combined with other techniques like Trigger Point therapy, it has shown excellent results in treating various conditions including sciatica.
The myofascial tissue has a great amount of nerve endings making it extremely sensitive to pressure and chemical changes happening in our body.
Apart from releasing pain and other related symptoms myofascial release therapy is particularly healing due to the intense connection between the fascia and the nervous system.
Sciatica caused by Myofascial imbalance
Imbalances in the myofascial system: imagine a spiderweb-like tissue acting as an interconnected unit, changes to any part of the system affecting the whole system in a domino-like effect.
Since our body functions as a unique piece of fabric, the whole body must be assessed and addressed.
These imbalances (happening as a result of different reasons) can cause compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve anywhere along its path (lower back, through buttocks, through back of the leg and into the foot).
Image above showing the close relationship between the Piriformis muscle and the sciatic nerve.
Some common areas of restrictions of the sciatic nerve?
Piriformis muscle: These muscle, located underneath the glutes can become irritated and cause compression of the sciatic nerve as it travels underneath it. Piriformis syndrome is a common presentation.
Lower back muscles: The deep muscles of the lower back, including the Quadratus Lumborum and the paraspinal muscles can compress the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve near their origin point.
This presentation is quite common in clinic and it’s often the most alarming due to this muscles’ proximity to the spine. The Quadratus lumborum can also be a really dramatic muscle, causing severe pain and dysfunction that might leave you in bed for a few days.
Hamstrings/adductor: The nerve can also become compressed at thigh level.
Calf muscles: The sciatic nerve can become compressed or irritated as it passes through the calf muscles, particularly in the gastrocnemius and soleus complex.
Each of these presentations will require specific treatment to release the compression on the sciatic nerve.
Trigger Point Therapy and sciatica
Trigger Points are hyper-irritable spots within a taut band of skeletal muscle. These points are often painful when compressed and can cause both local pain and referred pain in predictable patterns and areas of the body.
Trigger Points can be active (actively causing pain and related symptoms) or latent (not actively causing pain but still affecting muscle function); latent Trigger Points can become painful and apparent when compressed.
Trigger points that cause referred pain and symptom can also mimic sciatica symptoms! Very often so!
Image above set as an example, capturing gluteus minimus and medius Trigger Point pain pattern. The “x” marks the location of the Trigger Point and the area in red marks where the pain caused by this Trigger Point can be felt.
Muscles with Trigger Points that mimic sciatica symptoms
Several muscles can develop trigger points that create pain patterns similar to sciatica:
- Gluteus minimus and medius: These muscles can refer pain down the leg in a pattern that closely resembles sciatic pain. I’d say this is the most common one we come across in clinic.
Specially Trigger points in Gluteus minimus can cause a lot of pain and other symptoms all the way down to the foot that really mimic sciatica.
- Tensor fasciae latae (TFL): When this muscle develops trigger points, it can cause pain down the outer thigh that also mimic sciatica.
- Quadratus lumborum: Trigger points in this popular lower back muscle can also refer pain into the hip and down the thigh.
It’s important to note that while these trigger points can create symptoms similar to sciatica, a proper assessment by a qualified professional is necessary to determine the true cause of the pain.
Summary
Sciatica is a condition characterised by pain, numbness, or tingling along the sciatic nerve path, which can be caused by spinal issues or soft tissue imbalances.
While some cases of soft tissue related sciatica may resolve on their own, most require professional intervention, particularly from a myotherapist or soft tissue specialist for proper treatment and management.
Myofascial Release Therapy and Trigger Point therapy are particularly effective treatment methods, working together to address both the whole myofascial system and focused trigger points.
Trigger points can cause sciatic-like symptoms, some common muscles include the gluteus minimus/medius, lower back muscles, calf muscles each requiring a specific treatment.
When presenting with sciatica it’s important to seek assessment by a medical professional as well as taking a course of soft tissue release treatments to both tackle the symptoms and prevent worsening of the presentation.
At our Brighton and Hove based clinic, we specialise in soft tissue treatment and are proud to provide this effective treatment method to our community.
About the author
Rocio Santiago
MA in Nursing, Dip. Soft Tissue Therapy
Ro initially began her career as a nurse. Following this and after a difficult time in her life that resulted in a career change, Ro went on to train at one of the leading soft tissue therapy schools in Europe, completing a 3 year degree level course and specialising in effective soft tissue manipulation for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
The treatment method Ro uses consists of a combined approach using different specialised techniques, myofascial release and trigger point work among others, with the intention and focus on providing effective results in the least possible amount of time.
Combining her training, science background and life experience, her treatment method is based in science and built using a whole body approach, where mind and body are addressed as one.
Ro has been seeing clients as a soft tissue therapist for 9 years, successfully treating a wide range of conditions.