July 2013

Acupuncture: Sciatica

by Patricia Kowal, Licensed Acupuncturist in Noosa

Sciatica can be a real pain in the bottom! Sciatica is a term used for pain caused by the sciatic nerve being compressed. This nerve is compressed a spinal disc that is protruding out of alignment, or other spinal problems that contribute to the bearing down upon the sciatic nerve. The compression on the sciatic nerve causes pain symptoms (sharp shooting pain, tingling, numbness) starting at your lower back and radiating down the backs of your legs or down the sides of your thigh. Some experience pain radiating to the back of the knee, others feel it radiating to the ankle and foot. This pain can be aggravated and triggered by too much activity or too much inactivity such as: prolonged sitting and standing, long walks or running. These activities put much force on your spine and the impact the spongy discs that are in between your spinal bones. In chronic cases of sciatica there may be serious damage to the spinal disc that is causing permanent compression of the sciatic nerve. These cases typically present with more serious pain symptoms.

Typical treatment for sciatica involves using your chosen modality to align your muscles of the hip, hamstrings and back. Treatment style and frequency will vary from each individual depending on their symptoms and how long the symptoms have been present. A more recent injury or experience of sciatic pain may have faster results than a condition that has been untreated for longer periods of time.

Chinese medicine technique of moxibustion

Moxibustion is the process of burning a Chinese herb, 'moxa', on the top of the acupuncture needle or hovered over the skin to penetrate warmth into the muscle tissues. With sciatica our healthy muscles are being taxed in order to compensate for the muscles that are tense, stressed and compressing on the spine and nerve roots. It's important to keep your muscles warm so that more blood is able to flow through affected areas.

Research on moxibustion for sciatica

This study used 90 cases of sciatica separated into three groups in attempt to observe the effect of moxibustion on pain threshold. Warming moxibustion was compared with with a western oral medicine group and also with acupoint injection of a pain reliever group. The group receiving moxibustion resulted in a higher amplitude of pain threshold increase than the other groups. The conclusion: "Warming needle moxibustion can increase pain threshold, improve symptoms and raise quality of life for the patient of sciatica."

[Effect of warming needle moxibustion on pain threshold in the patient of sciatica]. Source: PubMed www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16419700

Chinese medicine technique of cupping therapy

Cups will be placed on spinal muscles and muscles of the posterior hip and lower leg for up to twenty minutes depending on your condition.

Research on acupuncture and sciatica

On study shows 50 patients with sciatica symptoms being treated with specific acupuncture points over a span of 10 treatments (one treatment per day every third or fourth day). The acupuncture points were chosen due to their direct relation to the sciatic nerve. The results of the study showed that the acupuncture points on specific areas were able to to reduce sciatic symptoms in the participants.

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Patricia Kowal is an AHPRA Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbal Practitioner in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

Disclaimer: please follow up with your practitioner if you are unsure or are having questions about the information contained in this material.

References:

WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/sciatica-topic-overview

Close To The Bone, David Legge, D.O.

[Effect of warming needle moxibustion on pain threshold in the patient of sciatica]. PubMed www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16419700

Wang C, Ma J, Xiao L. Treatment of 50 cases of sciatica by needling zanzhu and fengchi. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2003;23(1):51-52. http://www.jcm.co.uk/product/catalog/product/view/7270/treatment-of-50-cases-of-sciatica-by-needling-zanzhu-and-fengchi/