Can sciatica be treated with acupuncture?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on January 03, 2025
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Regarding whether acupuncture can be used for sciatica, it should first be clarified that acupuncture is feasible for treating sciatic nerve pain.

Acupuncture can promote the recovery of nerves, thereby effectively alleviating the symptoms of sciatic nerve pain. However, it is important to note that it is best to undergo acupuncture in the acupuncture and massage department of a formal hospital. Formal hospitals are more professional, have a better grasp of indications, and tend to provide more satisfactory results. Additionally, for patients with sciatic nerve pain, it is crucial to minimize local irritation. It is essential not to expose the area to cold, apply local heat, and combine treatment with some neuro-nourishing medications, such as mecobalamin, which is quite effective.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Pre-symptoms of sciatica

For the early symptoms of sciatica, it is usually manifested as obvious pain in the area where the sciatic nerve enters and distributes. The main symptom is radiating pain, especially under circumstances such as catching a cold, strenuous exercise, fatigue, or suffering from trauma, where the pain will be more pronounced. There are many causes of sciatica in clinical practice. Common causes include issues with the lumbar spine, such as disc herniation, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis, which can compress the spinal nerves and result in symptoms of sciatic nerve pain.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Does sciatica cause numbness in the legs?

Sciatica can cause sensory abnormalities in one lower limb and even lead to muscle weakness. It can also cause numbness and sensory abnormalities on the dorsum or sole of the foot. However, foot numbness should first exclude causes like exposure to cold or poor blood circulation in the lower limbs. After excluding other causes of foot numbness, it can be diagnosed as sciatica-induced symptoms such as foot numbness. At this time, it is advisable to actively nourish the nerves and avoid certain postures that may aggravate sciatica. Additionally, sciatica can also be caused by lumbar disc herniation, or simply by the local compression of the sciatic nerve in its course.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What causes sciatica?

The causes of sciatica generally fall into two categories. The first is primary sciatica, which is usually caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve and is relatively rare in clinical practice. The second category is secondary sciatica, which occurs when the tissues and structures around the sciatic nerve undergo pathological changes, leading to stimulation and compression of the sciatic nerve, thus causing secondary sciatica. The majority of secondary sciatica cases are associated with lumbar spine disorders, such as lumbar disc herniation, tumors in the lumbar spinal canal, or degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, as well as sacroiliitis. A hospital examination is necessary to make a definitive diagnosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to treat sciatica

Sciatica typically has two treatment methods. One is non-surgical treatment, which is currently the first and most commonly used approach. The first step is general treatment, meaning that once symptoms of sciatica occur, one should rest on a hard board bed. Second, one can combine this with some heat applications to the lumbar area, physical therapy, and acupuncture; all of these are options. The third is traction therapy, which is very effective for discogenic sciatica, as it can reduce the pressure on the intervertebral disc, thereby increasing the volume of the spinal canal and enlarging the area of the intervertebral foramen, thus reducing stimulation to the nerve. Fourth, one can consider undergoing sacral canal injections, or using papain or collagenase for chemical dissolution of the nucleus pulposus, which usually can also achieve a good effect. The fifth point is that when symptoms are reduced, one should start exercising the lumbar and back muscles to increase their strength and enhance the stability of the lumbar spine, thereby ensuring the stability of the intervertebral disc. It should be mentioned that massage and manipulation are quite effective for herniation of the disc nucleus pulposus, but if there is already obvious osteophyte formation, narrowing of the intervertebral space, or disorder of the facet joints, or even lumbar spinal stenosis, then massage and manipulation are not recommended. If the aforementioned treatments prove ineffective, the condition does not relieve or even worsens, or if there is central herniation of the lumbar disc, or if the patient shows significant cauda equina nerve stimulation symptoms, then surgical treatment is required.

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Orthopedics
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Which department should I go to for sciatica?

For sciatic nerve pain, it is recommended to first consult an orthopedic or spinal surgery specialist. Initially, it is important to determine the cause of the pain, such as whether it is caused by a herniated disc pressing on the nerve root. If it is confirmed that the pain is not caused by a herniated disc pressing on the nerve root, and it is purely sciatic nerve pain, you can then visit a pain management clinic to check for potential issues like piriformis syndrome. In essence, start with an orthopedic consultation to rule out orthopedic conditions. If no orthopedic issues are found, then consult a pain management specialist.