Sciatica and the Alexander Technique: quick relief or lasting solution?

Sciatica is most often the result of a habit of bending badly and in the wrong places. Explore this spine-stressing habit and what you can do to heal your sciatica.

Bulging Discs and the Sciatic Nerve

Sciatic pain is the result of pressure on the sciatic nerve. This is usually caused by a disc prolapse (slipped disc). When a bulging intervertebral disc presses on the sciatic nerve as it leaves the spine, it causes pain (and often numbness) along the route of the nerve (in the buttock, down the thigh and sometimes down into the lower leg). This can result in a feeling of weakness as well.

Since, in most cases, sciatic pain is the result of a disc prolapse, you need to investigate the prolapse next.

A disc prolapse is most often the result of a habit of bending badly and in the wrong places. Explore this spine-stressing habit in my article on slipped discs. Find out why it causes discs to bulge and what you can do to heal your sciatica.

Read “Getting rid of lower back pain: How to loosen your back up” for practical ways to help yourself.

Piriformis Syndrome

That same harmful habit pattern of bending and stressing the spine that so easily causes disc prolapses also tightens the buttock muscles, including piriformis.

The sciatic nerve passes underneath the piriformis muscle on its way to your leg. If the piriformis muscle is very tight, it will, when your leg is in certain positions, press on the sciatic nerve. This is another common cause of sciatic pain.

Since the same harmful habit patterns are implicated in both disc prolapses and piriformis syndrome, both problems need dealing with in the same way. My slipped disc page describes the habit pattern and goes on to explain why it takes the Alexander Technique to unlearn the pattern and acquire a healthier way of moving.

Read “Getting rid of lower back pain: How to loosen your back up” for practical ways to help yourself.

Other Causes of Sciatica

Occasionally the pressure on the sciatic nerve may have other causes such as an abscess, blood clot or tumour. These have nothing to do with your habits of movement and you would be wasting your time consulting an Alexander teacher in such cases!

Further Resources

Here are some ways I can help you further.

Wherever you live

1. If you’re not already getting my free weekly article delivered to your inbox, then go here to get it.
2. Repoise is our membership site for people who are serious about improving themselves (and getting out of pain as they do that). Find out more here: SmilingBackMethod.com/Repoise When you join, you will:–
   • have daily access to me. Together we will work out what’s going wrong for you and how to fix it
   • learn from reading other Repoise members’ questions and following their progress as they work with me
   • get access to all my articles, not just the ones that are published on my web-site
   Check it out and judge for yourself: SmilingBackMethod.com/Repoise
3. I’m writing a book about my work. It will come out on the 1st July 2010. The book I was going to write this year (on the Tube Principle) was a bit too specialised so I changed my mind about writing that book. This new book will still include a chapter or two on the Tube Principle — and, of course, much more besides.

If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)

1. I’m also running introductory workshops in Liverpool teaching you how to apply my work to improve your life. Go here for details of the next workshop: SmilingBackMethod.com/workshop
2. There’s no substitute for individual lessons. Ring me on 0151 708 6172 to book your initial lesson. (Leave your number so I can get back to you).

If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool

1. There’s still no substitute for individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you in the UK or elsewhere
2. Remember to still do the things I listed above for everyone. Even if you’re having lessons from someone else, you will find these a very great help. They’ll help you understand your lessons better and get a lot more out of them. All my own pupils read my weekly articles and several of them are active members of Repoise.