JULIE HUNG ACUPUNCTURE
Yenching Julie Hung, a Board Certified Fellow Specialist in Oriental Reproductive Medicine, specializes in IVF/IUI Support, Infertility Treatment, Fertility Enhancement, Reproductive Health, Women’s Health, Migraine, Sciatica, and Pain Healing. Julie Hung, a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), provides Acupuncture therapy and oriental reproductive herbal medicine to help natural conception and boost IVF success rate in the Sunnyvale, San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Fremont, Cupertino, Los Altos, Campbell, San Mateo, Foster City, Portola Valley, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Los Gatos, and Silicon Valley San Francisco Bay area.
Overview
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the spinal cord to the buttock and hip area and down the back of each leg. The term "sciatica" refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve. The pain usually starts from the lower back to the buttocks and extends down the rear of the thigh and lower leg to the sole of the foot and along the outer side of the lower leg to the top of the foot.
Symptoms
Usually sciatica affects one side of the body. The pain is likely to occur along a path from the low back to the buttock, and back of the thigh and calf. Sitting and trying to stand up may get worse; coughing, sneezing, and laughing can intensify the pain. Other symptoms include numbness along the nerve pathway in the leg or foot, tingling, pins-and-needles feeling, numbness, and muscle weakness.
A rare but serious condition is the loss of bladder or bowel control, which requires emergency care.
Causes
• Herniated Disk: A primary cause of sciatica is a herniated or bulging lower lumbar intervertebral disk that compresses one of the nerve roots before it joins the sciatic nerve.
• Piriformis Syndrome: Piriformis syndrome is a pain disorder involving the narrow piriformis muscle in the buttocks. Prolonged sitting, car accidents, and falls also can contribute to piriformis syndrome.
• Ruptured Disk: Ruptured intervertebral disk is the most painful condition.
• Lumbar spinal stenosis.
• Spondylolisthesis.
• Trauma.
• Pelvic injury or fracture.
• Sciatic nerve tumor or injury.
Risk Factors
Complications
Although most people can fully recover from sciatica, sciatica can potentially cause permanent nerve damage. Depending on what's causing the nerve to be compressed, other complications may occur, including:
• Partial or complete loss of movement in the affected leg.
• Partial or complete loss of sensation in the affected leg.
• Recurrent or unnoticed injury to the leg.
• Loss of bowel or bladder function.
Prevention
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain proper posture when standing, sitting, lying, and driving.
• Avoid lifting and moving heavy objects when tired.
• Avoid prolonged sitting or lying with pressure on the buttocks.
• Good sleep posture: Choose a good mattress and use pillows for support.
Treatment
In the past few years, the World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and several authoritative organizations have released several statements to confirm that Acupuncture is an effective and efficient therapy for the pain relief, including back pain, sciatica, hip pain, and leg pain.
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Sciatica