Acupuncture for sciatic pain

Sciatica, or sciatic pain, is a general term for inflammation of a sciatic nerve. 

Depending on the area of the nerve affected, the symptoms might be pain in the lower back, buttocks, or the lower extremity, paresis (weakness) of the leg, numbness in the buttock and of the lower extremity, and dysfunction of reflexes. The pain might radiate widely, but usually it follows the direction of the nerve. 

​According to traditional Chinese medicine sciatic pain results from damp heat and dysfunction of the urinary bladder meridian.

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In case of acute pain, acupuncture is performed at a distal area from the presented painful area, because the painful side of the body is already weakened and curative resources must be found somewhere else. Immediate pain relief is expected right after the needles are inserted. Very often the acupuncture points are treated with moxa, especially when the condition manifests itself during a cold and damp season. Bloodletting ( a drop or two) can bring a quick pain relief in certain cases as well. For example, a few blood vessels on the posterior side of the knee might be pricked. In case of leg paralysis, the goal is to improve the blood supply in the affected area, and to repair the communication between the affected nerve and the central nervous system. Scalp acupuncture is very effective for paralysis as well.

After the acute pain has been resolved, an individualized acupuncture recipe is created according to the diagnosis and the precise location of the painful points. 

In addition to acupuncture treatments clients are advised to strengthen their core muscles. Core muscles form the enclosed chamber like a ball, that is supposed to absorb most of the shock from weight lifting, jumping, etc. When these muscles are weak, the skeletal system absorbs more stress than it is designed to do, and this results in disk herniation and other issues listed as causes of sciatic pain. 
We use a set of  5 very easy exercises, which allow our patients to stay healthy and pain free for a very long time without any need for more treatments.