MASSAGE AND SCIATIC NERVE RELIEF

The sciatic nerve is a nerve bundle composed of several nerve roots that originate in the lower back and sacral area. This nerve extends down  the lower leg into the foot , down the back of the thigh between muscles like the piriformis, which run down from the sacral area to the legs. A tightening of these muscles can cause the sciatic nerve to get compressed and cause pain. The pain can be mild causing slight tingling, but severe sciatic pain can prevent the client from moving or reclining. It is always advisable to get sciatica diagnosed by a physician, as there are more serious factors that can cause similar pain . These can include spinal problems such as misalignment of  discs or their degeneration due to age. Muscle spasms or tensions can also cause such pain and need to be treated separately. Application of cold compresses quite often alleviates sciatica pain and may be used for initial treatments or mild attacks. However, long lasting relief can be obtained from massage therapy once the problem is identified as originating from the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve originates from the bottom of your sacrum which is the triangular bone just above the buttocks, the region from where the massage therapist will begin the treatment. The massage treatment should preferably start with an assessment of the entire back and buttock area. The piriformis muscle can be tight or spasming, which in turn compresses the sciatic nerve resulting in  pain.  Massage treatment would include applying constant pressure to the piriformis muscle and other gluteal muscles to cause them to relax and reduce the spasms. These muscles can become tight by constant pressure due to long hours of driving or spending extended periods of time while seated .     They may begin during pregnancy and worsen as the pregnancy progresses. The massage therapist would then include long strokes, which reach deep into  muscle fibers.  Pressure and technique would vary by individual, and gentle vibration of the buttock and sacrum is also practiced. This may require several sessions to enable the muscle to release its hold on the sciatic nerve and therefore afford longer relief.
Such massage techniques can also be practiced at home as a follow-up to the treatment or when pain is less severe. This requires you use  of a tennis ball. Place it in the middle of one buttock while lying down. Let your weight slowly settle on the ball and induce pressure on the piriformis muscle. Remain still while the muscle relaxes and repeat the massage treatment on the other buttock. Rolling the ball across the gluteal muscles while lying down may also help. Be sure the pressure does not apply to any bones. If you do feel sore after this treatment, apply some moist heat to the area with a heated wet towel.

The spending on pain relief medications due to sciatica is estimated to cost Americans billions of dollars each year. A study conducted in 2003 concluded that massage therapy reduced the intake of pain killers by as much as a third compared to other known forms of treatment. This itself can lead to the reduction in the use of painkillers and has already made massage therapy a common way to ease sciatica pain. Massage therapy for sciatica pain may require multiple sessions, but relief can last for two to three months. It is important that the sufferer take care to ensure that the conditions that caused the sciatica pain are avoided.

Essential oils that may be beneficial for sciatica relief:

Peppermint, Roman Chamomile, Helichrysum, Thyme or Deep Blue.

Wishing you Peace, Harmony and Balance