The word “sciatica” can sound scary if you don’t know exactly what it is. I know from personal experience, having suffered from it during pregnancy. If you’ve landed on this page it’s probably because you are suffering from, or are worried you might have sciatica.

First let me say, you are not alone. Your pain can likely be managed and sciatica does not have to be as scary as it seems. While sciatica is painful to deal with, it’s rarely a permanent condition and can almost always be treated non-invasively. Only severe cases require more in-depth treatment options.

The best news I have is that you likely already have common tools within your own home that can help relieve your pain and heal your body. I was thrilled to find out that using the tennis ball massage to relieve sciatica pain is actually an option!

But first I want to decrease your fear factor by explaining to you exactly what sciatica is, where it comes from and how we can heal it naturally.

What is Sciatica?

According to Spine-Health.com, symptoms of sciatica include “leg pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travel down the low back via the sciatic nerve in the back of the leg.”

They go on to explain that sciatica is not technically a medical diagnosis but more so a symptom of other underlying medical conditions. Certain health issues can spark pain and pinching of the sciatic nerve in your spine, causing the spread of pain down your spine and into your legs.

Sciatica can occur in people of any age, though it’s not very common in young children. According to the Sciatica Authority, sciatica can occur in the younger population due to “congenital or early developmental issues, injury or some disease process.” Growing pains can also often be confused with or very similar to sciatica pain.

Check here our 3 easy exercise to relieve pain

Where is the Sciatic Nerve Located?

The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest single nerve in your body. It stretches from the lower back down the back of the legs to the toes.

The fibers of this nerve start in the spine and then gradually gather together to form the thickest part of the nerve. According to this video, the main part of the nerve is as wide as a man’s thumb.

The sciatic nerve continues down through the pelvis and along the back of your leg, where it splits apart at the knee and continues down to your toes.

The close relationship between your sciatic nerve and your lower back, spine and legs explains why issues with these areas often result in sciatica pain.

It’s amazing to think we have such a thick and long nerve running down the length of our body. The interconnectedness is so interesting and can make you realize how important it is to take proper care of this nerve.

What Causes Sciatica?

As I’ve already mentioned, Sciatica is usually caused by an underlying medical condition. Meaning that sciatica doesn’t normally appear out of nowhere, but is brought on by a condition you may already know you have. Some underlying conditions that cause trauma to the sciatic nerve include:

  • Lumbar spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Piriformis syndrome
  • Pregnancy
  • Lack of exercise
  • Obesity
  • Old age
  • Diabetes

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

According to WebMD, lumbar spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal cord in the lumbar area of the spine. It’s often caused because bones, tissues, or both, grow in the openings of the spinal cord, irritating the nerves within, such as the sciatic nerve.

Spondylolisthesis

Another underlying condition of sciatica is spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis can also affect the lumbar area of the spine, which in turn can irritate the sciatic nerve.

According to Wikipedia, it’s often caused by a fracture but can also come on due to old age.

Pregnancy

Sciatica is, unfortunately, something I experienced during my second pregnancy. The shooting pain down my buttocks and leg was excruciating and the only relief I found was through home-based tennis ball massages.

The pressure your body experiences on the spine and lower back during pregnancy can lead to back pain, pinched nerves and other types of muscle spasm.

Many pregnant women experience sciatic pain throughout their pregnancy. As mentioned, always speak with your physician before attempting any self-performed treatments, especially during this sensitive stage. Lucky for me, as soon as my pregnancy and birth were over, the pain disappeared!

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome is another underlying cause of sciatic pain. Piriformis syndrome is when the piriformis muscle, located in your buttocks, starts to spasm causing pain in the region. Piriformis syndrome can also aggravate the sciatic nerve and bring about pain, numbness or tingling in the legs and back as well.

According to WebMD, piriformis syndrome can be caused by repetitive trauma in the piriformis muscle. This trauma can be caused by repetitive motions like long-distance running or prolonged sitting.

Lack of Exercise & Obesity

According to the Mayo Clinic, excess weight can cause additional pressure on the low back and spine which can contribute to sciatic pain.

Old Age and Diabetes

Old age can be another contributing factor to sciatic pain. Aging bones often bring about herniated discs and bone spurs which are major contributors to sciatic pain. Diabetes also increases your chance of nerve damage.

Now that we know what sciatica is and where it can come from, let’s talk about how to treat it.

Treatments for Sciatica

As mentioned, there are fortunately many non-invasive treatments for sciatica pain and rarely is invasive surgery required.

Some non-invasive treatments include:

  • Mild yoga
  • Chiropractic work
  • Heat/ice therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage therapy

All these treatments can have a major positive impact on the length of time you’re stuck dealing with this pain.

While you can also request pain medication, I suggest going to the source and figuring out a way to heal yourself safely and naturally.

Something very important to keep in mind is that the sooner you address the underlying issues and the symptoms, the better off you will be. Symptoms can definitely get worse quickly if left untreated. You also run the risk of injuring yourself further. So the sooner you can attempt therapy and treatment, the better.

The main non-invasive treatment I want to discuss with you today is tennis ball massage. Remember I promised you’d have a pain relief tool right in your own home? Well, time to bust out the tennis balls. If you don’t have any at home, you can grab some cheaply on Amazon.

Tennis Ball Therapy

Tennis ball therapy incorporates the benefits of massage, acupressure and reflexology. Using the tennis ball tactic can help relieve muscle tension and soothe sore muscles. When it comes to sciatic pain, the tennis ball focuses on your piriformis muscle which is situated very closely to your sciatic nerve.

This Healthy and Natural World article explains that during your massage, the tennis ball “presses and treats trigger points in the piriformis muscle, reduces the muscle tension and rigidity, improves mobility and improves blood circulation to the area.”

The weight of your body on the small tennis ball allows it to directly pinpoint certain sections of your muscles. Pressing into these pain point causes the muscle to relax and release. It can be a slightly painful but gratifying process. It’s kind of like when you get a shoulder massage and you cringe because it hurts so good.

The greatest part about tennis ball therapy, aside from the pain relief, is that it’s inexpensive, easy and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Now before I continue, I want you to remember that before self-diagnosing, performing any exercises or attempting any treatments, always consult with your doctor. When cleared by your physician or physical therapist, tennis ball massage can be very beneficial in helping you heal your sciatic pain.

How to Use Tennis Ball Massage to Relieve Sciatica Pain

Grab a tennis ball (or two) and get ready for some relief. Below are some simple steps for how to use a tennis ball for massaging sciatica pain:

  • Lay down on the floor and place the tennis ball under the gluteal muscle (buttocks) where you are experiencing the pain
  • Lift the same leg up in the air so that your other leg, arms and back are supporting you on the floor
  • Begin to slide your glute over the tennis ball slowly and steadily
  • If you feel a pain point, pause for a few seconds, let the pain release and then continue to roll

Keep in mind, if you do feel a pain point, the pain should not be too strong. If it feels strong or unbearable, adjust the ball or add more balls to get rid of that direct pressure from a single ball.

You’ll want to compress every trigger point you find for 10 to 15 seconds before moving on to the next spot. Another option is to just roll around gently back and forth over top of the pain area.

If you want to see a live demonstration in action, you can find plenty of YouTube videos on tennis ball massage. There are plenty of personal trainers out there eager to divulge advice on this topic.

Benefits of the Tennis Ball Massage to Relieve Sciatica Pain

Sciatic pain relief isn’t the only benefit you’ll encounter when it comes to tennis ball massage. Tennis balls can also be used as a pain relief tool for lower, middle and upper back pain.

It doesn’t stop there, you can also use a tennis ball to massage your feet, hips, thighs and knees as well.

Another major benefit of tennis ball massage is that it’s completely mobile. You can take those things anywhere! Stick it in your briefcase, backpack or purse to have round-the-clock pain relief.

This extremely inexpensive therapy is a major benefit, especially in the day and age of crazy healthcare costs. You don’t even have to spend money on gas to travel to a doctor or physical therapist. Just lay down in the comfort of your home and get to work.

Additional Treatments

Other non-invasive treatments for sciatica include things like acupuncture, chiropractic work, pain medications, heat/ice therapy, physical therapy, mild yoga practice and more.

The great news is that many of these treatments are all-natural and non-invasive. So while your pain might seem severe and like it needs some serious work, you can normally find relief through all-natural resources, which I love!

Again, only in severe cases would you have to consider an invasive surgical treatment. In most cases, with non-invasive treatments, sciatica pain can often be relieved within a few days or weeks.

As you can see, tennis ball massage can be a fantastic way to relieve sciatica pain. Not only is this therapy option cheap, it’s also convenient and private. You don’t have to pay for a massage therapist or leave the comfort of your home to gain relief.

You should take care when performing a tennis ball massage. Ease into it, invite the pain points and work gently to release them.

Have you ever used tennis ball massage to relieve sciatica pain? How did it work for you? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear any experience you can share.

Sources:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica
http://www.sciatica-pain.org/sciatica-in-children.html
http://www.spine-health.com/video/sciatic-nerve-anatomy-video
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/sciatica-symptoms
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spondylolisthesis
https://www.painscience.com/articles/tennis-ball.php
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-piriformis-syndrome
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/basics/risk-factors/con-20026478
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/sciatica-treatment
http://www.amazon.com/Penn-Championship-Tennis-4-Cans-Shrinkwrapped/dp/B0002JZEL4
http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/tennis-ball-to-relieve-sciatic-pain-and-back-pain/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/395896-tennis-ball-method-for-the-sciatic-nerve/
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/sciatica-treatment

Online Source: https://www.healthambition.com/tennis-ball-massage-relieve-sciatica-pain/

Shannon Nettles

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