You Need To Consider Doing This If Your Sciatica Pain Is Not Improving With Massage
Sciatica pain can be one of the most debilitating types of discomfort, often radiating from your lower back, through the hips, and down the legs. Whether caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or another underlying issue, sciatica pain can severely limit your ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods. The pain can range from a sharp, shooting sensation to a dull ache, and can be triggered or worsened by certain movements, making it a constant challenge.
The emotional toll of sciatica pain can be just as overwhelming as the physical discomfort. The constant pain can leave you feeling helpless, frustrated, and unable to fully engage in daily activities. If you’ve been using massage therapy to relieve your pain but haven’t seen lasting results, it might be time to explore more targeted treatments that address the root cause of your sciatica pain.
Massage: A Common Approach to Treating Sciatica Pain
Massage therapy is a common treatment for sciatica pain, offering temporary relief by relaxing the muscles around the lower back and hips. By using techniques such as kneading, pressing, and stroking, massage helps reduce muscle tension, improve blood circulation, and promote relaxation, which can alleviate some of the discomfort caused by sciatica pain.
However, massage can be repetitive and time-consuming. Frequent sessions may be needed to maintain any relief, and the cost of regular treatments can quickly add up. While massage can offer short-term comfort, it often doesn’t address the underlying cause of your sciatica pain, which means you might find yourself needing continuous sessions rather than achieving lasting relief.
Why Getting a Clear Diagnosis Is Crucial
Sciatica pain can result from a variety of conditions. Here are five common causes of sciatica pain:
- Herniated Disc – A slipped or ruptured disc in the spine can press on the sciatic nerve, causing pain that radiates down the leg.
- Spinal Stenosis – A narrowing of the spinal canal can place pressure on the nerves in the lower back, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs.
- Piriformis Syndrome – Tightness or inflammation in the piriformis muscle, which is located in the buttocks, can irritate the sciatic nerve, leading to pain.
- Degenerative Disc Disease – As we age, the spinal discs lose their cushioning ability, which can lead to nerve compression and sciatica pain.
- Spondylolisthesis – A condition where one vertebra slips over another, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve and causing pain.
In addition to these common causes, there are two less common but potentially more serious causes of sciatica:
- Spinal Tumors – Tumors near the spine can press on the sciatic nerve, causing pain and neurological symptoms.
- Infections – Infections affecting the spine or surrounding tissues can cause sciatica and require immediate medical attention.
The Need for Imaging to Get a Precise Diagnosis
It’s important to understand that sciatica pain cannot always be fully diagnosed through physical symptoms alone. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans are essential to identify the underlying cause of the pain. These diagnostic tools provide healthcare providers with a clear view of the spine, discs, and nerves, allowing them to accurately diagnose the source of the pain and develop a more effective treatment plan.
The Pain Relief Clinic: Your Partner in Finding a Clear Diagnosis
At The Pain Relief Clinic, we understand how sciatica pain can impact your life, making everyday activities feel impossible. With over a decade of experience, we specialize in offering non-invasive diagnostic services to uncover the root cause of your pain. If you’ve been living with sciatica pain and haven’t found lasting relief, we can arrange for affordable scans, typically within one working day. Medisave can often be used to help cover the cost of these scans, making them more accessible to you.
We also assist with insurance claims, including accident insurance, travel insurance, and company insurance, ensuring that you can access the care you need without added financial burden.
Once we have a clear diagnosis, we can provide targeted treatments, solutions, and non-invasive technology to help you overcome sciatica pain and restore your mobility.
Ready to take control of your sciatica pain? Send us a message today to arrange an appointment and begin your journey toward lasting relief from sciatica pain.
What To Expect When I Visit The Pain Relief Clinic
A typical visit will involve our doctor first understanding your medical history, concerns and previous experience with other pain treatments.
For patients who have consulted many people but have yet to receive a clear diagnosis, selecting an affordable imaging scan might be recommended to confirm the cause of your pain..
Some patients have already done scans with other doctors for their pain condition but are still not clearly told what they suffer from.
Dr Terence Tan is happy to offer you a second opinion and recommend how best to manage your condition.
We also see patients who already have a confirmed diagnosis from specialist pain doctors, but are "stuck” because treatment options offered are not practical or acceptable.
We can help by discussing options that you might have potentially never been told of.
A common experience is when a patient has already consulted a specialist doctor for pain management and is told to consider orthopaedic surgery which they find too aggressive.
Or they may have seen doctors for their pain and were prescribed painkillers with potential side effects which made them feel uncomfortable.
Many of our patients have also first tried complementary treatments or acupuncture with traditional Chinese pain doctors.
They look for a second opinion after finding any relief experienced from other treatments to be temporary or requiring repetitive treatments, which add up to time and cost.
Especially in such situations, we emphasize using non-invasive medical technology you likely have not been told about .
This can make a big difference to your results.