You Need To Consider Doing This If Your Sciatica Pain Is Not Improving With TCM Treatment

Sciatica pain is a common issue that affects many people, causing discomfort that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down through the hips and legs. The pain can range from mild, nagging discomfort to sharp, excruciating sensations that make even basic movements challenging. For some, sciatica pain also leads to numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg, which can further impair daily activities and affect quality of life.

The persistent nature of sciatica pain can affect your work performance, social life, and participation in physical activities. It can leave you feeling frustrated and emotionally drained, as the pain often seems to persist despite efforts to treat it.

TCM: A Popular Approach to Treating Sciatica Pain

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a widely used approach for managing conditions like sciatica pain in Singapore. TCM treatments such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, and tui na massage are often sought after for their holistic benefits in relieving pain, improving circulation, and promoting healing. Many individuals with sciatica pain turn to TCM in hopes of alleviating their discomfort and restoring balance to their body.

However, while TCM can offer relief for many, there are times when it may not provide the long-term results needed, especially if the root cause of sciatica pain hasn’t been properly diagnosed. TCM focuses on managing symptoms, but without understanding what’s causing the pain, the treatment may only offer temporary relief, without addressing the underlying issue.

Why Getting a Clear Diagnosis Is Crucial

Sciatica pain can result from various causes, and understanding the underlying problem is key to finding the most effective treatment. Here are five common causes of sciatica:

  1. Herniated Disc – A ruptured or slipped disc in the spine can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing sharp pain and discomfort.
  2. Spinal Stenosis – A narrowing of the spinal canal places pressure on the nerves, leading to sciatica pain.
  3. Piriformis Syndrome – The piriformis muscle, located in the buttocks, can irritate the sciatic nerve if it becomes tight or inflamed.
  4. Degenerative Disc Disease – As spinal discs deteriorate over time, they can cause nerve compression and sciatica pain.
  5. Spondylolisthesis – A condition where one vertebra slips over another, which can press on the sciatic nerve and cause pain.

In addition to these common causes, there are two less common but potentially serious causes of sciatica pain:

  1. Spinal Tumors – Tumors in or around the spine can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatica pain.
  2. Infections – Infections in the spine or surrounding tissues can cause significant pain and should be addressed immediately.

The Need for Imaging to Get a Precise Diagnosis

It’s essential to recognize that sciatica pain cannot be accurately diagnosed based on physical symptoms or examination alone. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs are necessary to determine the exact cause of the pain. These imaging tools provide a clear view of the spine, muscles, and nerves, helping healthcare providers identify the underlying problem and formulate an effective treatment plan.

The Pain Relief Clinic: Your Partner in Finding a Clear Diagnosis

At The Pain Relief Clinic, we have over a decade of experience helping individuals with sciatica pain. We take a non-invasive, comprehensive approach to diagnosing the root cause of your pain and providing effective treatments. If you’re suffering from sciatica pain and haven’t found lasting relief, we can arrange for affordable scans, typically within one working day. You can even use Medisave to help cover the cost of these scans, making the process more affordable.

We also assist with insurance claims, including accident insurance, travel insurance, and company insurance, ensuring you have access to the care you need without additional financial stress.

Once we’ve obtained a precise diagnosis, we can develop a customized treatment plan to target the root cause of your sciatica pain, helping you regain comfort and improve your quality of life.

Ready to find a solution? Send us a message today to arrange an appointment and start 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.