Anyone who has experienced sciatica pain knows how much it can affect your quality of life. Searching for solutions, or even temporary relief from pain, can become an arduous, repetitive, and frustrating endeavor. If this is your situation, you are not alone. The good news is there is a very simple and effective solution to most sciatica pain. First, let’s take a look at what sciatica pain is.
What is Sciatica Pain?
In a nutshell, sciatica pain is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body. Pain can run from the lower back region, through the hips and buttocks, and possibly down the leg of the affected side. Usually, sciatica begins when a disc in the lumbar area of your spine gets worn down, either due to injury, genetics, or just general ‘wear and tear. This is often diagnosed as herniated discs, stenosis, or degeneration.
Acute sciatica pain can range from mildly annoying to severe. This can greatly affect your ability to walk about freely, without pain. Sciatica will often go away after 1-8 weeks, depending on how much effort is put into resolving the issue. For many, sciatica pain will come and go over many years. Knowing what to do upon the onset of pain is critical to regain mobility.
Common Sciatica symptoms include:
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Tingling in the affected leg and/or foot
Most sciatica sufferers’ range between 30-50 years old, at the age back pain creeps into existence and becomes harder to ignore. However, there are some instances when younger folks can also be affected if they suffer from diabetes, excessive weight lifting, accidents, and even being overweight. Treatment will benefit more if these health issues are addressed through proper diet, weight, and pain management.
But the good news is that there is help available for sciatica pain.
How Acupuncture Can Help Sciatica Pain
Acupuncture is an effective treatment to relieve sciatica pain without the side effects that many experience from NSAIDs, muscle relaxers, and other medical interventions. This is because acupuncture is effective in relaxing tight muscles, promoting blood circulation, and encouraging our brain to release endorphins and enkephalins, our body’s natural painkillers.
Fine gauge needles are inserted directly into the affected area or a distal point connected to the area of pain. It is normal to feel a slight pressure, dullness, or achiness as the needle is inserted. Sometimes, a trigger point is also released with the needle insertion, a great way to release the tight muscle fiber in that area and bring about relief. Many have found acupuncture to be a more effective and long-lasting treatment than massage alone because of its ability to release the deeper muscle fibers.
How many acupuncture treatments are needed to relieve pain? Depending on the severity and how long the condition has existed, it could take 2-6 treatments to relieve sciatica pain.
Living in Boulder is pretty much as close to heaven as you can get. There is so much to see and do that it can still be an exciting place to explore, even after living here for several years. But for those suffering from sciatica, the sites and attractions of Boulder can either be entirely out of reach due to the pain or can result in so much pain that the sufferer cannot enjoy their life as they should be able to.
That’s where Hummingbird Wellness Boulder comes in! You will experience deep relaxation, healing, and pain relief. We are the best-rated Boulder Acupuncture clinic. We are certified Acupuncturists and Herbalists, and we are proud to serve the Boulder community with top-notch acupuncture treatments.
At Hummingbird Wellness Boulder we utilize acupuncture, myofascial massage, and Trigger Point Therapy for acute and chronic pain conditions, including relief from sciatica pain. Come in to see one of our licensed acupuncturists in Boulder.
