Sciatica Pain, Chiropractic Acupuncture

Portland, Maine

Sciatica pain is remarkably common.  Often characterized by pain down the back of the leg, numbness and even tingling, sciatica pain can be debilitating.  Impairing one’s ability to comfortably walk, stand or sit.

There are two major causes of this type of pain.  In a “true” sciatica the nerves that go down the back of your leg are pinched or compressed in the lower part of the spine.  In what’s called “Piriformis Syndrome” the sciatic nerve is compressed by an inflamed muscle in your buttock.  Oftentimes without an MRI, piriformis syndrome is misdiagnosed as sciatica.  The primary difference, other than the cause, is the treatment.

Although sciatica does respond to chiropractic manipulation and associated therapies, Sciatica is treated medically with steroid injections, surgeries and more invasive treatments.  Piriformis syndrome on the other hand, is easily treated with deep tissue trigger point therapy, chiropractic and/or acupuncture.

Piriformis syndrome is often misdiagnosed as sciatica.  While piriformis syndrome does cause sciatica like pain, the treatment and outcome is often very different.

For more information on treatment of sciatica pain in Portland, Maine, call (207) 774-6251