Will Acupuncture Help with Sciatica and Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Sciatic nerve pain is a very common nerve condition and can be an excruciating one. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It runs from the lumbar spine down the buttocks and throughout the leg. 

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is not any medically diagnosed disease. It is a collective of symptoms that affect the region of the sciatic nerve. It can have several causes and, thus, different methods of treatment. The sciatic nerve pain feels like a harsh tingling or numbing radiating down the buttock and leg. 

In some people, sciatic nerve pain can lead to severe back pain. In others, it can be pain in the hip, foot, or leg. Sciatica can also exhibit minimal pain in people who only get numbing or tingling feelings in the nerves. This is called paresthesia. 

What Causes Sciatica?

There can be many reasons leading to sciatica pain, but the most common health conditions contributing to it are:

● Degenerative disc disease

● Pregnancy

● Spondylolisthesis

● Pinched nerve

● Bulging disc 

● Herniated lumbar disc

● Lumbar spinal stenosis

These are just some medical conditions that can contribute to the growth of sciatic nerve pain, though it can be triggered by many causes.

How Does Chinese Medicine View Sciatica?

A basic tenet of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is that every part of the body is interconnected. The diagnosis and treatment of any body part is possible by understanding the imbalances in the body as a whole. The most common cause of sciatica is blood stagnation in the back. Therefore, treating all related imbalances helps increase blood flow and improves the symptoms of Sciatica.

How Can Acupuncture Help in Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Research shows that acupuncture does help in reducing the pain of sciatica. It can stimulate the nerves in your muscles and other tissues, changing the processing of pain in your spinal cord and brain. It helps reduce inflammation, muscle stiffness, and increase local microcirculation. Acupuncture can also promote regeneration of the sciatic nerve with targeted treatment. 

As the back, pelvis, and hip are all interrelated, the treatment involves each of these parts of the body. Acupuncture will also relax your muscles, stretch the tendons, and strengthen your muscles. 

Acupuncture Points for Sciatica

Where do the needles go for sciatica? Acupuncturists follow their own set of protocols. However, the most common areas are along the wrist, the forearm, and the lower calf or ankle. These points of insertion have been proven to be beneficial for sciatic nerve pain.

As TCM uses the connections between the body parts to treat sciatica, an insertion in related areas can increase the blood flow and help in healing sciatic nerve pain.  Are you looking for reliable acupuncture near you for your sciatic nerve pain? Monarch Acupuncture & Wellness can clearly help you. With our treatment based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, we ensure that our healing methods are tried and tested to treat your sciatic pain. To connect with one of our expert acupuncturists, book an appointment right away!