If you’re reading this, you probably have a radiating pain running down the back of your leg that just won’t go away. If that is true, then read on.

Initially, let me tell you why today’s traditional intervention methods for sciatica nerve pain don’t always solve the problem. The medical community is often times so conditioned and focused on treating merely the symptoms that they fail to cover the cause of the problem. I am glad you’re here, the more educated you are about your body, the more likely you are to get the proper results and the quickest relief.

To get rid of your sciatica once and for all, you must first know what is creating your discomfort. There are four fundamental conditions that can cause sciatica nerve pain. But, just knowing your condition is not enough, you need to probe down a little deeper to find out why you have one or more of the four conditions.

As you read on you will note a collective theme. That collective theme is the key to your success for speedy and substantial relief.

Condition #1 – Piriformis Syndrome

The most widespread cause of sciatica nerve pain is created when pressure is located on the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle. Muscle imbalances pull the hip joints and pelvis out of place and this changes the location of the piriformis muscle, which then places pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Simple right? So, if you believe that, than I ask you what good does treating the symptoms do to get lasting pain relief? In my picture, none, and most likely that is all you have accomplished. Just one more short question, did any of your health care providers examine you for muscle imbalances? If not, the help I promised is at hand.

Through defining Piriformis Syndrome we have identified the first cite of muscle imbalances and what I believe to be the base cause of Sciatica.

What Is a Muscle Imbalance Anyway?

When one muscle overpowers the opposing muscle or when there is a variation in flexibility of opposing muscles or a combination strength and flexibility.

Think Tug-of-War.

When your muscles are out of balance they pull your bones and joints out of their common position and this places your muscles, bones and joints under constant stress and uneven pressure.

null There are over 640 muscles in the human body and everything we do affects them. From sitting too much to playing the sports we love, and if just one of these muscles are out of balance, you’re in trouble.

Condition #2 – Herniated Discs

Pressing caused by a herniated or bulging disc can cause Sciatica. A herniation is when a disc protrudes out from amongst the vertebrae and this can either be caused by an incident like a car accident, or, by months or years of uneven pressure due to muscle imbalances. This can sometimes cause sciatica pain, but it is also important to note that many people with herniated discs don’t even experience pain or symptoms, and many don’t know they have the condition.

Pressure caused by Spinal Stenosis, which is a narrowing of the space within the spinal canal. If you have Sciatica from spinal Stenosis and there is a good chance that your muscle imbalances are pulling your hip and spine into an unnatural position causing the contact which cause the pressure.

Condition #4 – Isthmic Spondylolisthesis

Pressure caused by Isthmic Spondylolisthesis, which is simply when a vertebrae slips or moves. This can sometimes pinch the sciatic nerve but most of the time people who have this condition don’t have any sciatic pain, symptoms, or even know they have it!

In Nearly Every Case Of Sciatica, Muscle Imbalances Are The Primary Cause Of The Pressure Being Placed On The Sciatic Nerve…

But how do muscle imbalances develop? Either from a traumatic event, or from a long process of lifestyle choices, or a combination of both.

The trama scenario is most likely the accelerator for sudden onset of sciatic pain. So what happens? When there is undue stress on the Piriformis muscle that stress causes it to go into spasm and then you have pain due to the Piriformis muscle putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.

In most cases, people go to physical therapy or minimize their physical activity to break the pain–spasm period and in most cases your symptoms lessen. However, the event will also set you up for a lifetime of sciatic pain if the Piriformis muscle does not recover fully in both strength and flexibility.

When you have trauma to a muscle, both strength and flexibility are compromised. If your recovery ends (meaning your effort) before strength and flexibility return, you may never be 100 percent again and will likely struggle with the problem throughout your life.

The other way sciatic pain creeps into your life is due to your lifestyle and habits, and that is what we like to call the process. The process can be described as a extended onset of symptoms based on your everyday activities.

However, from a technical stand the process actually describes the development of the muscle imbalance in your hip. The Piriformis muscle is responsible for external rotation (moving your leg so your feet point outward). So over time that muscle gets tight from the positions you put yourself in and it gets weak from lack of use.

So how do you get rid of your sciatic pain?

If you are not sure which one of the four is causing your sciatica, I recommend you commence with the basics. Most cases of sciatic pain are caused by muscle imbalances so if you begin to act on correcting any muscle imbalances you have, you should start to see betterment right away, and likely get rid of your sciatic pain in a few weeks or less!

Will learning one new stretch be enough? It very well may be. However depending on the severity of your condition you may need to change your activities of daily living to include new stretches, new exercises that include the use of the hip rotators like inline skating, basketball, tennis, etc, and even better, specific corrective exercise specific to correct your imbalances that you have and that are appropriate for your situation.

As always, learn as much as you can about your condition, so that you can ask the tough questions to your healthcare providers and get the best care possible