Sciatic Nerve Neuralgia: Negative Impact on Other Body Systems

From the author.

About 25 years ago, I had a patient suffering from fibromyalgia, whom I helped manage the condition. This patient invited me to participate in panels at a local fibromyalgia support group. During one of these meetings, I met an endocrinologist specializing in fibromyalgia treatment. Initially, he was skeptical about the role that medical massage could play in managing fibromyalgia. As a challenge, he began referring difficult cases to me—patients with severe, chronic pain, clinical depression, significant fatigue, and other complications.

To his surprise, I succeeded in treating most of the patients he referred. Over time, treating fibromyalgia patients, became the main focus of my practice, simply couldn’t accept other cases .At the same time, I was managing a massage school and overseeing its continuing education programs. Many of my students were enthusiastic to learn about fibromyalgia treatment, mastering the techniques to help these patients. Even today, many of them manage practices that specialize in treating fibromyalgia. I referred numerous patients to them and invited them to present at fibromyalgia support group meetings.

Two weeks ago, one of my former students asked for my help with a fibromyalgia patient who was experiencing a severe flare-up. She had difficulty maintaining consistent results with this patient. During my initial evaluation, the patient reported suffering from acute symptoms of sciatic nerve neuralgia for the past few months. L/spine MRI findings showed spinal stenosis and disc herniations, and despite receiving epidural injections, the results were unsatisfactory. Her doctors had recommended surgery.

I asked if the severe fibromyalgia flare-up coincided with the onset of her sciatica symptoms. The patient confirmed that it did. I suggested implementing medical massage protocols for sciatica first, and then we would address the fibromyalgia treatment. One critical observation I made during the initial evaluation was the patient's high level of stress and anxiety, largely due to her fear of surgery. She repeatedly said, "I won’t survive any surgery." I reassured her, explaining that surgery isn't always necessary in such cases. I also provided her with my article on the subject and shared successful outcomes from my patients.

To make a long story short, after five treatments, the sciatica symptoms subsided, and without even applying fibromyalgia protocols, her fibromyalgia flare-up symptoms improved as well. I referred the patient back to my former student for ongoing management of her fibromyalgia.

In conclusion, it was clear that sciatica pain triggered increased muscular tension not only in the surrounding muscles but throughout the entire body, particularly in patients predisposed to fibromyalgia. The relief she felt upon realizing that surgery might not be necessary also contributed significantly to her overall improvement. I firmly believe that because massage is a specific science with clinical applications, we approach treatment differently—considering both body and mind, and understanding how acute pain in one area can trigger negative effects throughout the musculoskeletal system and other bodily systems.

Please feel free to post your opinions. As always, I welcome questions and discussions, even disagreements, for the sake of learning.

Best wishes.