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Sciatica Leg Pain

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What is Sciatica

The sciatic nerve has five nerve roots.  This nerve is located on each side of the lumbar region of the back. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. 

If one of the nerve roots becomes compressed or irritated, the result is pain that is in the lower back (lumbar region), buttocks and the leg and foot.  Often, the pain is a burning pain that radiates downward, starting in the lower back.  Depending on the compression or irritation of the nerve root, one may also experience numbness, tingling as well as weakness and decrease in motion and flexibility.  Because there is a sciatic nerve located on both the left and right side of the lower back, these symptoms will, in most cases, be felt on the side of the body of the affected nerve. 

It is important to note that sciatica is not the condition that needs to be treated.  In order to alleviate these symptoms, the physician will need to diagnose the cause of the compression or irritation to the nerve root.  Treatment is dependent on the cause. 

While the majority of cases for patients experiencing sciatica do not suffer permanent nerve damage, there are those who may not recover and in fact have chronic sciatica. 

A physician will be able to determine the cause through a review of the patient’s medical history, physical examination and testing.  The physician can determine whether the compression is temporary, as may be the case due to injury or a certain movement.

Sciatica Leg Pain

The sciatic nerve has an intricate “wiring” that will send a signal from the brain to the muscles and will also collect sensory information from the leg(s) to the brain. In the case of those suffering symptoms of sciatica, this “wiring” gets crossed and does not work as it normally would. The result of this “crossed wiring” may affect the patient with muscle weakness, leg pain as well as decrease in motion and flexibility.

Sciatica leg pain may include cramping in the thigh; shooting or radiating pain from the buttock down the back of the leg; numbness and/or tingling as well as burning sensations. 

Pressure caused by certain movements may increase the sciatica leg pain. 

Massage and Sciatica

There are various massage therapies that may be administered to alleviate pain and other symptoms of sciatica. 

Due to the location of the muscles that stabilize and rotate the leg at the hip joint, one massage that has proven to be effective target the buttocks.  It is under the buttocks (gluteus maximus) that these smaller muscles are located.  In addition to applying pressure to this area, patients also find relief when the lower back is massaged. 

Some patients find a deep therapy massage to be very effective.  There are some patients, who may not be able to tolerate the intensity of this pressure.  In these cases, pulsating or vibrating motions may be used.