Sciatica and the Alexander Technique
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!
This article is included under the following categories:‒
Personal Coaching by Philip Pawley
If you want to get the best kind of help, come to me for an introductory lesson in Liverpool.
If you’re too far away, then the next best thing is to get personal lessons and advice from me online at Repoise.com, my on-line school. (Both far-away and local pupils use Repoise).
In more detail:–
If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)
- There’s nothing better than individual lessons. My practice is at 37 Hope Street, Liverpool L1. Ring me on 0151 708 6172 to book an initial consultation and first lesson. (Leave your number so I can get back to you).
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If you’re short of funds, you can still have first class training from me — though it will require a little more work on your part.
The thing to do is have an individual, in-person lesson just once a month. That will entitle you to also get regular on-line lessons from me through Repoise. That way, you have the best of both worlds: in-person lessons and very regular, even daily, on-line Personal Coaching by Philip Pawley from me. That’s a real bargain because Repoise costs the equivalent of three lessons a year to everyone else.
Ring me on 0151 708 6172 if you want to arrange this.
- I occasionally run group lessons. If you’re interested in these, go here for details.
If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool
- There’s still nothing better than individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you in the UK or elsewhere
- I suggest you also get direct day-to-day guidance from me by joining Repoise.
If you’re having plain Alexander Technique lessons from someone else, you still need to discover the Smiling Back Method of the Alexander Technique. You’ll get a lot more out of your lessons when you do.
37 Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 9EA, England
Telephone: +44 151 708 6172 Mobile: +44 7872 905 154
Copyright © 2007-2012 Philip Pawley
SmilingBackMethod.com
