Sciatica, degenerative disc disease and back pain, in general, are the most common conditions we treat at Innovative Therapy Canada, and with a high degree of success.
Sciatica is a condition where some of the various fibres that comprise the sciatic nerve are being irritated or directly compressed. It will typically strike with no warning signs with its infamous burning ache down the back of the leg and perhaps numbness into the foot. Sciatica will usually afflict people over the age of 40 but has been seen in some as young as 28 years old.
Definition:
Sciatica is a nerve entrapment condition where some of the sciatic nerve fibres are being irritated or directly compressed. The sciatic nerve supplies the entire leg with sensory and motor (strength) innervation except for the front of the quadriceps muscles.
Two forms exist for the condition, Functional and Structural. Functional sciatica implies that the entrapment takes place within the muscles and connective tissues of the buttocks and/or at the level of the knee as the nerve travels down through them on its way to the foot.
Structural refers to the more serious form where the nerve fibres are being irritated or compressed either at the spinal cord or as these fibres exit the vertebrae of the spine.
Symptoms:
Since the sciatic nerve supplies both sensory and motor signals to and from the leg, squeezing a portion of the nerve can result in a multitude of symptoms as follows:
Sensory:
- Deep ache in the muscles of the buttocks, hamstrings, and/or calf
- Burning line of fire down the back of the leg
- Sensations of Pins and needles or total numbness into the calf and/or foot
- Deep ache into the big toe or on the top of the foot
- Muscular cramping of the buttocks, hamstrings, calves or bottom of the foot
- Weakness of the calf or shin muscles affecting the foot
- Staggered walking pattern
- Off balance when walking or climbing stairs
Motor (muscle strength):
- Loss of strength in the leg
- Drop foot
- Hammer toes
Note:
**Sensations of pain and/or numbness on the front of the thigh (quads) or on the side of the thigh is not due to a sciatic nerve problem. This region is not supplied by the sciatic nerve. Causes of sciatica are specific to the type, Functional or Structural. Here are the causes of both types.
Structural (Spine):
The sciatic nerve is comprised of the nerve fibres exiting the spinal cord at 5 different levels. Each level has fibres that supply a specific region of the leg. The most common cause for structural sciatica is bulging discs in the spine. A bulging disc will generate inflammation that will invade the narrow tissue space around the nerve fibres thus entrapping it.All disc problems arise from improper biomechanics of the pelvis, knee or foot. For a detailed look at discs and how they can be a factor in sciatica, visit the “Degenerative Disc Disease” link in this section of the website.
Functional (Muscular):
Functional sciatica arises when the nerve becomes entrapped by dysfunctional muscles, usually within the buttocks (gluteals) region. It is an easier form to resolve by removing the compression easily felt within 1 or more of the large powerful glute muscles.
Treatment:
Functional Sciatica:
Recall that this is the less serious form of sciatica, that develops from muscular compression of the sciatic nerve somewhere along its path down the back of the leg. Treatment is quite simple and fast. We employ special neuromuscular techniques to quickly remove the dysfunctions that developed within the muscles the sciatic nerve travels through. Shockwave therapy is administered to regions that can’t be efficiently or effectively addressed by neuromuscular therapy. We have a 100% success rate in curing this form of sciatica.
Structural Sciatica:
Recall that this form results from excessive pressure on the discs of the lumbar (low back) spine. Curing this form of sciatica requires correction of the mechanisms responsible for the disc compression in the region.
We employ all 4 technologies we use at the clinic giving us the power to efficiently and effectively get the job done. Our focus is on the entire skeleton from the waist down to and including the feet.
We utilize the unique and amazing effects of magnetic biostimulation therapy to help remove the chronic edema (swelling) from around the spinal discs and sciatic nerve roots. Pulsating magnetic waves are the only modern technology that can penetrate bone like that of an MRI scan, to reach this deep spinal region.
The low and high powered shockwave therapy devices we own, coupled with a unique neuromuscular therapy technique, help us make mechanical corrections to the skeleton, eliminating the abnormal forces on the discs of the spine.
A total of 3-7 treatments is required to complete the process. Treatments are administered once per week, unless you are considered a critical case. Critical cases are designated to those who are close to suffering permanent and irreversible damage to their sciatic nerve fibres.
Note
**We have the ability to rapidly remove disc compression from the affected region of the spine. Such a treatment is extremely aggressive, taking 2 hours to complete, and is exhausting, but can be used to prevent nerve damage in the severest, most critical situations.
If you are interested in scheduling a consultation/assessment, please contact us at your convenience: