BY PAUL GAUCHER
A common ailment that impairs mobility and that I see a lot in my clinic is Sciatica. Sciatica is a condition that occurs when something pushes on the sciatic nerve, causing pain. Most often this is due to muscle spasms or a slipped disc, and sometimes even the spine itself pressing on the nerve. The Sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in the body, and consists of a large bundle of smaller nerves that begin in the lumbar spine that travel down the buttocks, and move through the lateral aspect of the leg. The sciatic nerve runs under or, in some people, through the piriformis muscle in the pelvis. It is connected to the bottom of the spine and the top of the femur, or thighbones. If the piriformis muscle starts to spasm or becomes tight, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and also cause a sciatic type of pain with radiating sensations that can move down the leg. This persistent spasm of the piriformis muscle is called piriformis syndrome. Sciatica and piriformis syndrome can be caused by an injury, prolonged sitting, or sedentary lifestyles in people who don’t stretch or exercise.
Chinese medicine states that the body is interconnected, and therefore the diagnosis and treatment is based upon identifying specific imbalances in the muscles and the body as a whole. Correcting the imbalance does not just treat the symptoms or mask the condition, but rather corrects the root of the problem by encouraging self-healing of the body. The most common imbalance in acute sciatica is qi and blood stasis in the lower back. However, it is also important to treat the underlying imbalance, which may be causing the qi and blood to stagnate. Qi and blood stagnation in the channels often affects the soft tissue of the lumbar, hips, and pelvis. This is what causes the muscle spasm and tension that triggers the intense shooting pain of acute sciatica.
Some common underlying imbalances are kidney qi deficiency, spleen qi deficiency with dampness, and liver qi stagnation. By treating the underlying imbalance, we can help prevent the sciatica from returning.
Kidney Qi Deficiency: If your back feels very weak and it does not get better with a lot of rest, the underlying imbalance may be kidney qi deficiency. Other symptoms include weakness of the knees, extreme fatigue, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and a weak pulse.
Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness: For those with spleen qi deficiency with dampness, you will also have fatigue and weakness, but the back feels better with rest. Your body may feel very heavy and you may have poor digestion with long term inflammation in the body
Liver Qi stagnation: Liver qi stagnation causes your muscles to be very tight and in spasm when you become angry or frustrated. Also, you may suffer from frequent headaches and, in women, painful menses.
How does Chinese medicine treat sciatica? It is best to approach sciatica using combination style treatment. An effective therapy may include acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, and stretching. The back, hip, and pelvis are very interconnected and the treatment should incorporate all of them. Acupuncture will help to reprogram the muscles to release spasm and stay relaxed. In effect, this is working to help the body heal itself. Cupping works to reinforce the acupuncture by vigorously moving local circulation, and releasing any extra tension in the fascia and connective tissue around the muscles. In addition, herbal medicine helps to move poor circulation and decrease inflammation. After the pain is gone and you’ve recuperated from sciatica, it is important for you to keep up your own back. Stretching tight muscles as well as strengthening weak supporting muscles is the best way for you to maintain healthy pain-free posture.
Paul Gaucher (R.TCM.P) and his wife Dove Sprout (R.TCM.P) co-own Creston Acupuncture & Natural Health. They work at the Full Circle Health Centre, which also offers Physiotherapy, Chiropractic , and Counselling services. For more information or to book an appointment, call the clinic at 250-402-2044. For further questions about what acupuncture and herbal medicine can treat, you can e-mail Paul at crestonacupuncture@gmail.com