Can acupuncture help Sciatica?

Sciatica and piriformis syndrome are among the most common reasons people come in for acupuncture. Sciatica refers to pain that follows the sciatic nerve which travels from the low back and hip region down the leg. Symptoms of sciatica usually include discomfort from the low back and hip, that can continue down the leg into the foot, causing numbness and tingling of the toes. It may affect sleep, be painful when driving, cause discomfort when walking or standing and in general, makes everyone involved miserable.

Piriformis syndrome feels similar to the patient, however it’s caused by the piriformis muscle irritating or compressing the sciatic nerve. Either way, the pain can be debilitating and acupuncture can help, as shown in this systematic review and meta analysis. The review studied 11 randomized and controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of treating sciatica with acupuncture. The results found that acupuncture may be more effective than pharmaceutical medicine as well as enhance the effect of medications prescribed to patients with sciatica.

Clinically, patients usually see results fairly quickly. Often experiencing some relief after the first or second treatment and continuing to improve in subsequent sessions. The meridians used to treat sciatica and piriformis syndrome are big ones that extend from the head all the way to the feet. This means that treatment of sciatica often has a “side effect” of relaxing the muscles along the entire pathway leading to everything from decreasing headaches to reduction in neck/shoulder tension.

"Back Pain" by Andreanna Moya Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0