What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body. It originates in the lower spine, branches into the pelvis, then travels down through the buttocks and the back of the legs and branches into the lower legs and feet. Sciatic pain occurs when there is pressure on, or damage to, the sciatic nerve, and can cause pain to the lumbar spine including; bulging disc, joint inflammation, wear and tear. Spine degeneration can cause this irritation. Bowen for Sciatica has been shown to relieve this pain.

What are the symptoms of Sciatica?

Sciatic pain can vary from infrequent and irritating to constant and debilitating. Symptoms vary from each individual and depending on severity but often include one or more of the following;

• Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg (rarely in both legs)
• Pain that is worse when motionless
• Pain that occurs sporadically
• Leg pain that is often described as burning, searing or tingling
• A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up/walk
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg, foot, and/or toes

How can you avoid getting Sciatica?

While back pain due to sciatica, and other causes, is common, there are a number of measures that can help to prevent it occurring or reduce the likelihood that it will recur:

• Maintain correct posture when standing, walking and sitting.
• Don't smoke.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Practice safe lifting techniques. When lifting, bend the knees and keep your back straight. By doing this, the strain is taken by the hips and legs, not the back. Hold the object close to the body. The further away from the body the object is, the more stress is put onto the lower back.
• Undertake exercise that maintains aerobic fitness and strength and flexibility in the abdominal and spinal muscles.
• Ensure that your back is well supported when seated.
• Use chairs that provide good back support and are designed to provide a good seating posture.
• A lumber roll or contoured cushion can help to provide lower back support.
• Avoid carrying a wallet in your back pocket.

What can you do to help alleviate the pain

• Carry on with your normal activities as much as possible
• Regular back stretches
• Start gentle exercise as soon as you can – anything that gets you moving can help

Bowen Therapy and Sciatica

Bowen for Sciatica works on a deep level, gently and powerfully helping your whole body re-balance the tensional relationships of the connective tissues (fascia) which in turn can take the pressure off of the sciatic nerve and therefore relieving the symptoms. Bowen Therapy is also know to relax your central nervous system, allowing your body to be more in its ‘rest and repair’ state which is so often under active in our highly stressed modern lives. This helps you stop tightening your fascia when stressed thus aggravating the problem. (try clenching your fist and see how the remainder of the body feels particularly the jaw and shoulder). Many clients find themselves unable to get comfortable in bed and thus suffer poor sleep. It is important to address this issue also as sleep is when the body repairs itself. As Bowen Therapy calms the body down this aids with relaxation of the fascia which in turn can help with a good night’s sleep.
I treat many clients for sciatica, and if they have been experiencing it for a period of time before coming for treatment, when they first arrive often the pain is on the opposite side. This is because naturally when we are in pain we compensate and start taking the weight of the affected side. We will change our posture to accommodate the pain and over time we compensate more and more until the other side is unable to cope as it can change our total posture. The beauty of Bowen is that we look at the whole body – it is all connected! I will look at what you do for a living, the movements you make and really try and get to the root source of the pain. Exercises can also be prescribed where appropriate and sometimes changing the way you move can really stop the problem from re-occurring. My aim is not just to relieve the pain, but prevent it coming back. This is where my personal trainer background and the exercise and rehabilitation course I attended really help. If you have any questions, do please contact me.

Some feedback from just a few of the clients whom I have treated for Sciatica

"Dear Lee Thank you for this morning. Invoice all paid and pain free"

M R Oxon

"Since the start of my Bowen treatment I have had relief from pain that I have had for several years. I would recommend it to anyone who has any problems with their health. Also I find that my body and mind seem to be a lot more relaxed, feeling of well being"

E.C Maidenhead (Hip, sciatica, back and neck pain)

"Hello Lee I’ve been meaning to send you a progress report for a while. My second treatment was nearly 3 weeks ago now.
Everything is doing really well! My leg and right side feels very different and ‘connected’ again. I realise I had got used to it not feeling right and now I’m definitely noticing the difference. I’m sure I’m moving in a more balanced way. The improvement has been dramatic after the last treatment. I did have some recurrence of aches down the leg and/or sciatic area some days later but this didn’t last very long. I find it hard to believe that two sessions have achieved this result.
I am delighted with how you and Bowen have helped me. Thank you so much; it’s a wonderful therapy. I’m feeling sure that this change for the better is permanent - but I’ll certainly call you if I do have any concerns later. Best wishes Judith (Cann)

JC Isleworth