Sciatica is a pressing matter (pun intended) that usually shows up as pain radiating from the lower back to the glutei and down the back of the legs. It is caused by injury or accumulated pressure along the sciatic nerve, which runs down the posterior side of the body, with pain appearing as mild to constant, burning, or even an electric shock or current. If you can imagine, it is unpleasant and often debilitating. 

Acupuncture has been used to treat and minimize pain for a thousand years and is a side effect-free treatment for sciatica. It is one of the best and natural ways to immediately decrease inflammation. Acupuncture for sciatica works by:

• Relaxing the muscles in the body to prevent further constriction 
• Increasing blood flow, especially to the injured area(s), to decreased discomfort and  expedite healing
• Releasing natural pain-killing chemicals in the brain (endorphins and enkephalins)
• Decreasing inflammatory responses

Read on for a SEW patient-specific case regarding the treatment of a pesky dose of sciatica…

Stacy is a 35 year old female with chronic pain rating of 7 out of 10 in severity, which included sciatic pain stemming down her left side and keeping her from participating in activities that add joy to her days, including yoga, walking her dog and sleeping soundly.

One of our Source Practitioners prescribed a treatment plan that included 25-minute acupuncture treatments twice a week for 8 weeks, exercise and stretches that targeted the psoas, quadricep and piriformis muscles.

• After Treatment 1, Stacy reported a decrease in pain, from 7/10 to 4/10, which lasted for 2 days. A relief that she had experienced in months.
• After Treatment 8, Stacy reported a decrease in pain to an incredible 2/10, which lasted for nearly a week
• After Treatment 12, Stacy was down to a pain level of 1/10, which lasted for a full 2 weeks

From that point on, it was recommended that she come in for maintenance sessions 1-2 times per week as symptoms are present, and Stacy is back to yoga 4 times per week, walking her dog companion daily and sleeping restfully through the night.