Role in the lower back and buttock, with radiation down the leg is called lumbosacral sciatica. The cause of radiculitis is irritation of the spinal nerves in the sacrum and lumbar spine. Sometimes the nerves below the spine along the leg are affected. A common cause is compression of the nerve by a protrusion of the intervertebral disc in the lumbar spine and/or compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle. Compression of the sciatic nerve is painful, and in order not to aggravate the situation, it is necessary to eliminate its “pinching” as soon as possible.
The spinal nerves in the lumbar region emerge from the spine and some of them unite to form the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve exits the pelvis through the sciatic foramen. The piriformis muscle is located under the buttocks. It is attached to the sacrum (a triangular bone formation), located between the pelvic bones and the lumbar spine.
The second part of the piriformis muscle is attached by a tendon to the greater trochanter of the femur. Problems in the piriformis muscle affect the sciatic nerve because it runs under the piriformis muscle (sometimes through the muscle) and exits the pelvis. Inflammation or spasm of the piriformis muscle affects the sciatic nerve and causes symptoms of sciatica (pain in the lower back and buttocks).
With protrusion in the lumbar region, pain also occurs in the lumbar and pelvic area. Therefore, when eliminating pain in the lower back and pelvic area, when the pain also spreads along the back of the thigh, it is important to eliminate the cause of these disorders both in the lower back and in the area of the sacrum and buttocks.
What it is?
The coccyx is a small bone that ends at the end of the spine. It consists of several fused rudimentary vertebrae. The coccyx does not contain the spinal cord, but is surrounded by a large number of nerve endings that go from top to bottom. Despite the rudimentary nature of this bone, many important muscles are attached to it, which are involved in the processes of urination and defecation. Coccydynia is a pathological condition in which a person regularly or periodically experiences pain in the tailbone.
Result:
After deep unloading of the lumbar spine and piriformis muscle, using the Sacrus apparatus, overload of the muscles of the lower back and pelvis is eliminated, thereby eliminating compression of the intervertebral discs of the lower back and ensuring relaxation of the piriformis muscle. Thus, we eliminate compression of the sciatic nerve, after which pain in the lumbar and pelvic area disappears.
Additional stretching exercises for the piriformis muscle after unloading the lower back and pelvis on the Sacrus apparatus ensure consolidation of the therapeutic result and a speedy restoration of normal well-being and activity.
You can learn more about the device and the correction method in the section about the product, in the video clip or by calling 8-800-777-82-15.
Causes
There are a huge number of reasons that can lead to the appearance of coccydynia:
- Injuries. If a person falls on his back or buttocks, he will most likely experience pain in the tailbone.
- Passive lifestyle. Many people like to sit with their legs tucked to their chest. This greatly increases the load on the tailbone and may cause pain. It is especially dangerous to sit like this on hard surfaces.
- Neuritis.
- Stress.
- Coccygeal fistula.
- Cracks and scars of the rectum.
- Neoplasms that put pressure on the nerve endings near the tailbone.
- Frequent constipation or diarrhea.
- Inflammatory processes in the muscles and nerves of the perineum or pelvis.
- Osteocondritis of the spine.
Women are much more likely (3-4 times) to encounter this disease due to the structural features of the genitourinary system and the birth process. In men, coccydynia mainly occurs after 40 years of age. It is worth noting that pain in the tailbone may also indicate problems with the kidneys, reproductive system, and intestines. A specific diagnosis can only be made by a doctor after collecting anamnesis and conducting research.
Treatment and prevention. Modern Sacrus technologies
An alternative and safe method for eliminating spasm of the paravertebral muscles of the spine and piriformis muscle is manual therapy with stretching of the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle can be worked especially deeply and unloaded using the deep hardware effect “Sacrus”.
Removal of compression of the sciatic nerve is performed in the supine position. “ Sacrus ” device has a specific design that isolates and elevates the sacrum (the “tail” part of the spine) under the influence of gravity of the body (pelvis), helps relax the muscular-ligamentous apparatus of the pelvis and lower back, aligns and restores muscle balance from the sacrum to the hips and along spine. Rounded pairs of spikes on different segments of the “ Sacrus ” locally affect the trigger zones of the sacrum and coccyx, deeply unloading both muscle-ligamentous and bone structures.
This relaxes the piriformis and other pelvic muscles, which eliminates pain and restores the condition and function of the sciatic nerve. With the help of the Sacrus device, tension, imbalance and discomfort go away in 3-5 sessions, and with them the disorders that bothered you.
Important to consider! During the correction, it is possible to relax the deep muscles and ligaments, but with significant tension it is not always possible to restore normal tone. If the voltage remains, then a slight return is possible, but never to the initial level. In the next session, we deepen the relaxation of the sacrum area and, if necessary, the back of the head, and so on from session to session. Even with significant dysfunction, 5-8 sessions relieve tension and pain in the pelvic area.
Symptoms
Pain in the tailbone is the first sign of coccydynia. It can appear after physical activity, sexual intercourse, or defecation. The sensation intensifies with sudden standing and palpation, as if the back is being “shot”. Over time, the disease may progress. This leads to spasms of the pelvic muscles, hips, pain in the groin and anus. A person literally cannot sit on a hard surface; he is forced to put something soft under him. If coccydynia is not treated, the pain becomes constant and is especially aggravated at night, preventing normal sleep.
During painful attacks, a person sweats greatly and the skin turns pale. They can also cause irritability and apathy, which can later lead to depressive disorder.
Unpleasant sensations can lead to gait disturbances. Irritable bowel syndrome and constipation often develop. Due to the fact that the process of defecation can be painful, a person tries to visit the toilet as little as possible. This leads to additional intestinal problems. It should be noted that the disease does not go away on its own. If left untreated, impotence or prolonged and painful erection, prolonged depression, etc. may develop. The disease requires professional therapy, like any other disorder of the musculoskeletal system, for example, intervertebral hernia.
To diagnose and further treat coccydynia, it is important for the doctor to establish the true cause of the pain. First of all, the specialist must find out whether the patient has had any injuries or operations in the coccyx area. Palpation and inspection are carried out. In addition to a general history taking, the specialist often sends the patient to the laboratory to donate blood, urine, and stool. An ultrasound of the abdominal organs, radiography of the spine, examination of the rectum, and genitourinary system may be prescribed.
During the diagnostic process, it is important to exclude the presence of the following diseases: hemorrhoids, anal fissures, prostatitis, neoplasms in the reproductive system, radiculitis, etc. Only in the absence of the above diseases can a doctor make a diagnosis of “primary coccydynia.”
Causes and symptoms
Symptoms of sciatica occur due to irritation of the sciatic nerve. Disorders are caused by spasm of the lower back and piriformis muscles. The piriformis muscle becomes inflamed, contracts and puts pressure on the nerve. The inflammation gradually subsides, but muscle spasm persists. Therefore, in case of inflammation, it is important to use anti-inflammatory drugs, but the main effect should be aimed at eliminating the cause of nerve compression - spasm of the muscles of the lower back and buttocks.
The muscle spasm continues to affect the nerve. As regeneration proceeds, some of the muscle fibers are replaced by scar tissue, which has less elasticity, which leads to compaction of the muscle tissue (this is also a factor of pressure on the nerve).
Therefore, it is important to start unloading spasmodic muscles as early as possible! More often, piriformis syndrome manifests itself as pain along the back of the thigh (in the buttock). Pain occurs on one side (but sometimes sensations on both sides). The pain may radiate to the foot, resembling the symptoms of a herniated disc in the lumbar spine . Sensory disturbances and weakness in the leg are extremely rare. Some patients experience a tingling sensation in the leg.
Patients are uncomfortable sitting and avoid sitting. And if they sit down, they lift the sore side, and do not sit straight
Treatment
During therapy, it is important not only to eliminate pain. Most attention should be paid to treating the underlying disease (if present) that triggered the development of coccydynia. To reduce pain, doctors prescribe medications, and in especially advanced cases, inject anesthetics. Physiotherapy is also widely used: electrotherapy, ultrasound treatment, rectal massage, mud therapy, exercise therapy, acupuncture, etc. These techniques can speed up the healing process.
Surgical treatment is also used. It is resorted to in situations where other methods do not help and the pain syndrome remains. In this case, the surgeon removes the tailbone. This is also done when the rudiment becomes mobile after a fracture. In extremely rare cases, pain remains.
How to treat?
Any treatment during pregnancy requires special caution. When prescribing certain treatment methods, the doctor must assess the expected benefit to the mother and the possible risk to the fetus. If it is possible to postpone treatment until the postpartum period, then this path is chosen. If the painful condition of a pregnant woman prevents her from moving normally, resting, or she is tormented by unbearable pain, then a course of treatment is necessary. For help in treating sciatica, as well as many other diseases, including during pregnancy, you can contact qualified specialists at the Energo clinic.
Exercise therapy and gymnastics
With the help of physical therapy and special gymnastics, you can fight various neurological diseases, including sciatica. The doctor should prescribe specific types of exercises to perform after assessing the patient’s general condition. Basically, each exercise is aimed at strengthening the back muscles. One of these exercises is arching the back from a starting position on all fours (the so-called “cat”).
Massage
Massage for a pinched sciatic nerve allows you to relieve tension from the muscles, increase their tone, improve the patient’s general condition, improve blood flow and metabolism. It can only be done when there are no acute attacks of pain. This applies not only to pregnancy, but also to the general purpose of massage for pinched sciatic nerves.
Warming up
To eliminate pain, you can use a warming procedure. For this you can use, for example, a belt made of dog hair, pads with buckwheat or flaxseed and other coolants.
Yoga
Calm, relaxing yoga classes help restore emotional balance, relieve muscle tension, and increase muscle tone. After yoga, many pregnant women notice that their general health improves, their mood improves, and their appetite is restored, which, of course, has a positive effect on the development of the fetus.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy helps relieve pain and reduce its attacks. The impact occurs on certain points on the back and legs where the pain is localized.
Compresses
For compresses and rubbing, you can use tinctures of medicinal herbs. This must be done with great caution, following the clear instructions of the doctor, since almost all such tinctures contain alcohol. You also need to remember that in the presence of an inflammatory process in the body or elevated temperature, compresses are contraindicated.
Prenatal bandage
To reduce the load on the spine and maintain it in the correct position, pregnant women are recommended to wear a prenatal bandage. Doctors usually recommend wearing it from the middle of the second trimester. You don't need to wear it all day - about 2-3 hours. It is easier to walk or stand in a brace. It may be uncomfortable to sit and rest in it.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment during pregnancy is rarely used. Most drugs have a number of contraindications in their descriptions, which almost always include pregnancy (especially the 1st and 3rd trimesters). In extreme cases, painkillers, B vitamins, and anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.
Prevention
The first thing you can do to avoid coccydynia and many other diseases is to visit your doctor regularly. A specialist can promptly identify concomitant diseases and prevent the development of coccyx pathology. If you have already discovered signs of coccydynia, you should immediately seek professional help. In the early stages, the disease is treated much easier and faster. In addition, it is worth taking care of the presence of comfortable orthopedic furniture in the workplace. Don't sit with your legs tucked to your chest, try to take the pressure off your tailbone. If it is not possible to purchase orthopedic furniture, try placing a small pillow - it is both more comfortable and safer. Last but not least, try to avoid injuries to the tailbone and pelvic organs. If this fails, consult a doctor immediately.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical examination by a physician. One of the diagnostic methods is prescribed:
- Ultrasound of the lumbar spine - reveals protrusion of the intervertebral disc and localization of nerve compression.
- X-ray – determines the degree of degenerative changes in the iliosacral joints and spine.
- MRI visualizes morphological changes in the pelvis and spine in more detail.
