Massage + Sciatica

Let’s celebrate your sciatic nerve!

The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest single nerve in your body. Originating in your lumbar spine, with nerve roots from L4-S3, your sciatic nerve runs through the hip and all the way down your leg. Around the back of your knee, the sciatic splits into its terminal branches: the tibial nerve, which innervates the back of your calf, and the common fibular nerve, which innervates the outside of your lower leg. We may only think about our sciatic nerve in regards to that burning pins and needles sensation known as sciatica. But without a sciatic nerve, you’d have no motor control over your hamstrings or calves, and you literally wouldn’t be able to feel your feet! And you actually have two sciatic nerves - one for each leg. So the next time you enjoy a barefoot walk on a sandy beach, thank your sciatic nerves for their faithful service.

But can you please talk about sciatica now?

Sure thing. Sciatica is a shooting pain and/or numbness from the low back/hip and into the back of the leg. Some lucky individuals feel the pain all the way into the heel of their feet, although it most commonly stops somewhere in the thigh. There are myriad causes for sciatica, and they generally involve something compressing the nerve: a herniated disc; a tightened piriformis muscle (this is called piriformis syndrome); pregnancy and tumors. Risk factors include type 2 diabetes, sitting or bending for prolonged periods, nicotine use, and current or previous injury to your low back. And while about 40% of Americans will experience sciatica, the good news is symptoms usually resolve within a few weeks to months.

Will massage help sciatica?

You bet! Massage is a wonderful salve for sciatica. Your therapist will want to know where exactly you’re having pain or discomfort, and they may also massage areas where you don’t have any symptoms. Think back to those sciatic nerve roots in your lumbar. Not everyone with sciatica is also experiencing low back pain, but decompressing the lumbar spine sure can help ease the sensation. They will also likely do a detailed treatment to your hip. If you’ve never had your glutes massaged before, trust us on this. Remember that piriformis muscle we mentioned earlier? It connects your sacrum to your femur and your sciatic nerve runs either through or behind it. Relaxing that tissue can go a long way in providing sciatica relief. Your therapist might also include some stretches to the hip and leg as well! After your session, you should notice a dramatic reduction in your symptoms - sometimes they’re even gone completely.

Remember, your sciatic nerve is working hard for you, and sometimes it needs a little love. If sciatica has got you down, we’re here to support you while your body heals itself.