Did you know that the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body!
Have you ever experienced sciatic pain? If you have you will know how uncomfortable and painful it can be. But what can you do to relieve it? We see many clients who are experiencing sciatic pain (from pregnancy clients to those who do a lot of lifting and repetitive twisting in their work) and we offer therapeutic massage which can really help to ease the discomfort and release the pinched nerves.
How does massage work with Sciatica? Well it can help to relax tight lower back muscles which can place stress on your nerve roots. It works by loosening these muscles and can help prevent pinching or irritation.
You may have heard of ‘Trigger point’ massage therapy, which while not as relaxing as your typical massage, can bring a major dose of healing to your sciatic pain. In trigger point therapy, we manipulate trigger spots (areas that cause pain to other parts of your body) through cycles of pressure and release. It can take several sessions to work through the trigger spot, but doing so can bring great relief, more quickly.
Swedish or deep tissue massage can also be extremely helpful for treating your sciatica symptoms. A tight lower back can put pressure on inflamed sciatic nerves. Working out those knots and tight spots can ease that pressure, and bring relief.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of released endorphins when you’re in pain. These powerful “feel good” hormones including endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, all of which are known for calming nerves and promoting healing, are released during a massage and can act as a whole-body pain reducer helping you feel better.
