August 09, 2018 / by Dr. Han

Diagnosis and treatment for low back pain/sciatica pain

Sciatica is the pain that starts from the lower back and runs down one or both legs radiating along the sciatic nerve. The leg pain is possible tingling, burning, numbness or weakness. Any problems that compress the sciatic nerve could cause sciatica pain.

There are three common reasons in clinic. One is bulging or herniated disc at L4/L5 or L5/S1. Second is the imbalance of sacroiliac joint which is often the missed diagnosis because x-ray, CT scan or even MRI won’t detect the problem in most cases. Swollen and spasm of pear shaped muscle can also cause sciatica pain. More than one reason may exist at the same time. Dr. Han will palpate and do physical exams for each patient to figure out what is the exact reason for pain. Local acupuncture points and points on the affected leg will be needled with electric stimulation. Gentle stretching and Tuina adjustment may apply to lower back if necessary. For patients who are extremely sensitive, she may needle the distal points to avoid stimulation at painful area. 95% of patients feel big relief right after the first treatment and will get better and better after each session. Patients need to avoid harsh workouts, lifting heavy stuff or driving very long time during the process of recovery. Also keeping the back, leg and feet warm is crucial to prevent back pain coming back.