Sciatica and Lower Back Pain

What is it?

Back pain affects most people at some time in their lives. It comes in many forms, from lower back pain, middle back pain, or upper back pain to low back pain with sciatica. Common back pain causes include nerve and muscular problems, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis.

Sciatica is the name given to any sort of pain that is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. It is a condition suffered by many people and can be excruciatingly painful and intractable.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from the back of your pelvis, through your buttocks, and all the way down both legs, ending at your feet. Anything that compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve can cause a pain that radiates out from your lower back, and travels down your leg to your calf.

Sciatica can have a number of causes, such as a herniated (slipped) disc. This occurs when one of the discs that support the vertebra gets temporarily pushed out of position and presses on your sciatic nerve. But in many cases of sciatica, there is no obvious cause.
If you find that you have this kind of pain you should consult your doctor.

The benefits of massage

More than one study has shown the effectiveness of massage therapy for back pain. In fact, one 2003 study showed it worked better than acupuncture or spinal modification for persistent low back pain — reducing the need for painkillers by 36%.

A massage not only helps relax the muscles in the back it can loosen some of the muscles that are affected by the sciatic nerve. It helps circulation in the back, and if you suffer from chronic sciatic discomfort, massage is a good prevention in conjunction with light stretching and exercise
It is important to speak with your GP before using massage for a health condition