Massage Therapy: What Are the Signs of Sciatica Improving?

It’s believed that between 5% to 10% of people with lower back pain have sciatica. The sciatic nerve travels down your lower back and into your leg. The pain and numbness associated with this nerve can range from mild to severe.

If you or a loved one suffers from sciatica, you’re likely open to any potential treatment options. For many people, massage therapy represents the perfect, non-invasive solution.

However, if you’re receiving this type of therapy, then what are the signs that it’s working? And, how do you find a good massage provider for your needs?

In this guide, we’ll answer all these questions so you can seek the treatment you need for these symptoms

Can Massage Therapy Help Sciatica?

Massage therapy can help relieve the symptoms of sciatica in two important ways. First, it helps relax and loosen tense muscles. Tense muscles are a problem because they put a lot of pressure on your nerves.

And when you have a large nerve, like the sciatic nerve, this tension can cause a great deal of pain. After a massage, your muscles will be looser, which in turn puts less stress on the sciatic nerve.

The other way that a massage helps you is by releasing endorphins into your nervous system. Endorphins are released naturally during activities like exercise, eating, and sexual intercourse.

In addition to causing pleasure, they’re also great for relieving pain. As such, when you get an endorphin rush from a massage, it can increase your overall threshold for pain.

What’s the Best Type of Massage for Sciatica?

There are numerous types of massages out there, so it can be difficult to know which one can best help you manage your sciatica. Any massage that’s designed to help relieve muscle tension and reduce pain is good for sciatica.

For most people, that starts with a Swedish Massage. This common massage for sciatica applies pressure and circular massages to tight, painful areas. This, in turn, increases blood flow and reduces muscle tension.

If you suffer from a severe case of sciatica, you might want to consider Deep Tissue Massages. This type of massage is quite similar to the Swedish one, but it applies a lot more pressure.

This can help reach deeper layers of connective tissue that might get missed with Swedish Massage. The last type of massage that can help with sciatica is a Hot Stone Massage.

This type of massage combines the pressure and kneading techniques of a Swedish Massage with hot stones. In addition to pain relief benefits. It’s also great at reducing the discomfort associated with conditions like arthritis.

Signs of Sciatica Improving

As you get massage therapy for your sciatica, it’s vital to monitor your progress and record any changes you might be experiencing. This allows you to know whether or not the treatment is working for you..

If you’ve tried massage therapy for months, and you don’t notice any of these signs that your sciatica is improving, your best bet is to seek other potential treatment options.

1. Less Pain That Doesn’t Last as Long

When analyzing sciatica pain, there are two things you need to look for: intensity and frequency. The goal is to reduce the intensity of your pain levels, as well as reducing the frequency of these pain flare ups.

Most of the time, with massage therapy, you’ll see improvement within six weeks. The trouble is, pain can be a difficult thing to measure. We recommend you use this resource to help measure your pain levels.

By tracking your levels on a day-to-day basis (or even hour-to-hour) you have a better chance of understanding how your sciatica pain is changing.

2. Improved Range of Motion

Sciatica pain can cause the muscles to tighten and stiffen. This greatly reduces your ability to move in a way that’s flexible and comfortable. As such, an increased range of motion is a definite sign that your sciatica is improving.

If you aren’t noticing improved motion with massage therapy alone, you might need to combine it with physical therapy for more severe cases.

3. Fewer Instances of Numbness and Tingling

Numbness and tingling usually stick around for longer periods than sciatica pain. That’s because it takes longer for your nerves to completely heal. Once they do, the tingling to go away.

If your tingling isn’t gone within twelve weeks, you should consult with a health professional who deals with nerve-related conditions.

How to Prevent a Sciatica Relapse

Massage therapy can often help improve your sciatica. However, it’s up to you to prevent it happening again.

Some of the things you can do include improving your posture, stretching, exercising, avoiding sitting for too long, and investing in ergonomic work equipment. If you notice your sciatica returning, it doesn’t hurt to schedule another massage appointment.

How to Find Good Massage Therapy for Sciatica

Hopefully, by now we’ve convinced you that a therapist can help with your sciatica.

You can find a good provider by first checking out their services. Do they provide the type of massage therapy that’s designed for pain relief? And is everyone on their staff qualified to do it?

You should also consult online reviews for any potential massage business. This will give you a better sense of the quality of massage they offer.

Massages aren’t that expensive without insurance. However, if you have an insurance provider that includes them, you’ll want to make sure that your coverage is accepted.

Ready to Improve Your Sciatica? Contact Faces Spa

Here at Faces Spa, we’ve seen firsthand the pain that sciatica causes for our clients.

That’s why we’re dedicated to providing top-quality massage therapy that can offer lasting relief. We firmly believe that surgical options should be reserved as a last resort.

That’s why our well-trained staff will do everything in their power to improve your sciatica. So, if you’re ready to find the relief and relaxation you deserve, book an appointment online or give us a call at (402) 384-8400 to benefit from some of these amazing results.