Sciatic Nerve Pain

Sciatica refers to pain caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. It is a very common syndrome in the population.

Compression of the sciatic nerve is usually attributed to herniated disc (displacement of the intervertebral disc) that compresses the roots of the nerves that leave the spinal cord and are part of the sciatic nerve. The treatment in these cases is to increase the intervertebral space by applying acupuncture needles to the ligaments and muscles that surround it.

Another much more frequent cause than the previous one, in those cases where the MRI does not show compression of the nerve root, is the compression of the sciatic nerve in the gluteal area when it passes through the inferior of the piriformis muscle.This muscle originates near the sacroiliac joint and inserts into the femur. When the piriformis muscle has significant shortening of its fibers secondary to a sustained muscle contracture, it can compress the sciatic nerve as it passes through the lower part of this muscle. In these cases, which are fortunately the vast majority, the pain begins in the center of the gluteal area and radiates through the back of the leg.

These cases of sciatica are easily treated with acupuncture through myofascial release of the trigger points of the piriformis muscle. This technique is also called“Dry needling”.