Back Pain Treatment: Sciatica… A Real Pain In The Butt! (Part 2)

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Sciatica is a very common problem in people suffering with back pain. As I mentionsed in my last post, sciatica is the result of sciatic nerve irritation at some point along the course of the sciatic nerve.

Sometimes the sciatic nerve can become irritatied due to irritation and tightness in the piriformis muscle. This condition is know as piriformis syndrome. To effectivey treat piriformis syndrome, the following items should be addressed:

1. Remove any outside factors that irritate the sciatic nerve.
2. Improve the flexibility of the piriformis.
3. Initiate normal mobility of the sciatic nerve.

Remove Outside Factors
Sciatica can often times be traced to an external factor. The problem I see in most of these cases happens more in men and is related to carrying a wallet or other object in their back pocket. The problem arrises when sitting and and increase in focused pressue over the piriformis muscle and nerve. Solution: take the wallet out of your hip pocket. The pain should go away in a few days. The sciatica treatment exercises below will also help.

Increase Piriformis Flexibility
Because of repetitive postures and habitual activities, the piriformis muscle can become tight. Below is a back stretching exercise I prescibe to patients with an irritable piriformis.

Piriformis Stretch