Maybe it started with back pain and then your leg started hurting. It can be scary when the pain keeps getting bigger and you do not really understand why. I am going to shed a bit of light on this subject for you.
I had already touched on the subject of the sacroiliac joint and how it plays a part in low back pain. If you missed that article then click here to check it out. When this joint is skewed it can cause a variety of issues and one of those is irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sometimes it is caused directly from the sacroiliac joint and other times it is indirect because it causes a spasm in the piriformis muscle.
You can see here how the nerve (it is yellow) goes by the piriformis muscle. In some individuals the nerve pierces right through the piriformis muscle. It seems odd that we would be created that way; however, it happens quite often.
When the sacroiliac joint is skewed it typically causes a spasm of the piriformis muscle and in some instances it only causes a pain in the butt. However, if the nerve pierces right through the muscle then when the muscle spasms it is VERY likely that it will cinch down on that nerve and cause nerve pain going down the leg.
In some instances the muscle and the tissues surrounding the area thicken and adhere to everything in the area which further irritate the nerve. In these cases where the tissues thicken it tends to “entrap” the nerve. There are other sites where the nerve can get entrapped including between the heads of the hamstring muscles and at the top portion of the calf at the tendinous arch of the soleus.
So what would be the strategy to resolve a sciatica problem. First, I would start at the sacroiliac joint and get it aligned properly so that it is not skewed and causing the spasm in the piriformis. I address this process exactly in my book called Free My Back. I am offering the e-book version for free all you have to do is click here and register. The link for the book will be sent to your email and you can download it. The entire process only takes a few minutes of your time and the e-book will be ready for you to read.
Sometimes, just resolving an off kilter Sacroiliac joint is enough to resolve sciatica pain. In other cases, some additional work needs to be done to resolve the entrapment of the nerves. In these cases I recommend Active Release Techniques. This is a very specific soft tissue approach that is designed to resolve scar tissue problems and there are protocols just for freeing up nerve entrapments. To find a provider near you to to www.activerelease.com and do a provider search using your zip code.
If this seems intimidating then let me help you. I am also available for one on one consults to help you figure out what is the best next step for you. I am offering a free 30 minute consult to help you out. Click here to schedule. I look forward to being a part of your success story!
In Abundant Health,
lisamariekeller 