Understanding Sciatica: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Sciatica is a common condition that affects many people in West Auckland and beyond. The symptoms often present as lower back pain which can radiate to the glutes and the backs of the legs. Sciatica can also present as tingling and numbness in the legs and feet along with weakness in the leg muscles. 

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to a compression or irritation of the nerve or its roots and characterised by pain radiating into the back of the legs (1). The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the human body originating from the lumbar spine in the lower back and travels along the back of the thigh where it divides into two terminal branches (2). The sciatic nerve continues to supply the skin and muscles in the lower leg and foot, assisting with transmitting sensory information allowing for movement and sensation.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Sciatica typically presents on one side of the body and can cause any of the following symptoms:

• Lower back pain

• Buttock pain

• Pain radiating down the leg

• Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot

• Muscle weakness in the affected leg

These symptoms aren’t a definitive diagnosis but a set of symptoms caused by an underlying cause(3).

Common Causes of Sciatica Pain

• Lumbar disc herniation or “slipped disc”

• Degenerative disc disease or spinal wear and tear

• Spinal stenosis, narrowing of the spinal canal

• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

• Piriformis syndrome, where the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve

• Poor posture, prolonged sitting, or heavy lifting

Integrated Treatment at Waitākere Health Hub for Sciatica pain.

At Waitākere Health Hub in West Auckland, we offer an integrated approach to treating sciatica and lower back pain. Our goal is to help relieve your symptoms, treat the root cause, and support long-term recovery through tailored care and lifestyle modifications.

Osteopathy for Sciatica

Osteopathic Medicine plays an important role in musculoskeletal conditions according to Bagagiolo et al, with the aim of improving physiologic function and restoring function.(4)

Our osteopaths in West Auckland assess the body’s structure and function focusing on addressing the root cause of the pain. Treatments aim to reduce inflammation, relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve and improve overall mobility.

Techniques used may include:

• Gentle joint manipulation and adjustments to the spine and pelvis

• Soft tissue techniques

• Postural and ergonomic advice

Acupuncture for Sciatica pain

Acupuncture, both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western medical acupuncture (WM)(5), has been shown to help relieve sciatic nerve pain by:

• Stimulating the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals

• Releasing tight muscle groups helping to reduce inflammation

• Improving nerve function and circulation

• Encourage reabsorption of slipped discs

  
  

Many people in West Auckland seek acupuncture for both pain relief and whole-body balance, as a complex intervention it can help with the stress, insomnia and emotional toll this type of pain can elicit.

Clinical Pilates for Core Strength and Prevention

Exercise has a positive effect on the body’s nervous system by releasing endorphins. It also helps to promote blood circulation which helps reduce inflammation and accelerate tissue repair (6).

Our Clinical Pilates sessions help restore spinal stability, improve core strength, assist pelvic stability and prevent recurrent episodes of sciatica by:

• Strengthening core and gluteal muscles

• Improving posture and building muscle support for the spine

• Enhancing flexibility, mobility and control

Pilates in West Auckland at our studio in Waitākere Health Hub is tailored to all levels and ideal for recovery and injury prevention.

Remedial Massage Therapy

Massage therapy can be a helpful tool to reduce muscle tension that contributes to sciatic pain, especially in the lower back, glutes, and hamstrings.

Studies have shown how remedial massage can help relieve pain and tension in the surrounding muscles which may contribute to sciatic nerve pain as well as improving sleep disturbance.(7,8)

Massage therapy can help: 

• Reduce muscle spasm in the lower back and deep postural muscles

• Improve circulation and blood flow to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair

• Complements osteopathic or acupuncture treatments 

Preventing Sciatica and Lower Back Pain

Preventing future episodes of sciatica and back pain focuses on restoring and maintaining balance within the body which is more than a temporary fix. Exercise is an integral part of rehabilitation as written by Lima et al,(9).

At Waitākere Health Hub, our focus and goal is building long-term recovery through:

• Regular movement practice like Pilates or yoga to maintain strength and flexibility

• Postural education to reduce daily strain on the spine

• Strengthening with the TeslaFormer Chair and functional magnetic stimulation

• Manual therapies such as osteopathy and massage to address early signs of imbalance

• Stress management to reduce muscle tension and inflammation(10)

When to Seek Help

The good news is that in mild cases sciatica can resolve itself over 3-4 weeks but once resolved these symptoms can re-occur or worsen over time. If symptoms persist or don’t improve you should seek the help of a healthcare professional to be assessed promptly especially if there is weakness or loss of bladder/bowel control.

Back Pain Relief in West Auckland Starts Here

At Waitākere Health Hub, we specialise in non-invasive, personalised care for people with back pain, sciatica, and postural issues. Whether your goal is pain relief, rehabilitation, or prevention, our team of skilled practitioners can support you through every stage of your journey.

📍 Located in West Auckland

🌿 Osteopathy | Pilates | Massage | Acupuncture

📅 Book online today and start moving better: www.waitakerehealthhub.co.nz

References:

1. Zafonte, R., & Ropper, A. (2015). Sciatica. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(13), 1240–1248.

2. Dupont G, Unno F, Iwanaga J, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS. A Variant of the Sciatic Nerve and its Clinical Implications. Cureus. 2018 Jun 25;10(6):e2874.

3. Jensen, R.K., Kongsted, A., Kjaer, P. and Koes, B., 2019. Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. Bmj, 367.

4. Bagagiolo, D., Rosa, D. and Borrelli, F., 2022. Efficacy and safety of osteopathic manipulative treatment: an overview of systematic reviews. BMJ open, 12(4), p.e053468.

5. Liu, C.H., Kung, Y.Y., Lin, C.L., Yang, J.L., Wu, T.P., Lin, H.C., Chang, Y.K., Chang, C.M. and Chen, F.P., 2019. Therapeutic efficacy and the impact of the “dose” effect of acupuncture to treat sciatica: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Pain Research, pp.3511-3520.

6. Liu, S., Li, Q., Wang, H., Zhang, H., Zhao, Q., Su, J., Zou, J., Feng, P. and Zhang, A., 2024. Exercise as a promising alternative for sciatic nerve injury pain relief: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neurology, 15, p.1424050.

7. Preyde, M., 2000. Effectiveness of massage therapy for subacute low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Cmaj, 162(13), pp.1815-1820.

8. Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M. and Fraser, M., 2007. Lower back pain and sleep disturbance are reduced following massage therapy. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 11(2), pp.141-145.

9. Lima, L.V., Abner, T.S. and Sluka, K.A., 2017. Does exercise increase or decrease pain? Central mechanisms underlying these two phenomena. The Journal of Physiology, 595(13), p.4141.

10. Konno, S.I. and Sekiguchi, M., 2018. Association between brain and low back pain. Journal of Orthopaedic Science, 23(1), pp.3- 7.