Will massage help Sciatica?

Sciatica: Acupuncture vs Massage Therapy?

• Hi there. I'm 20 years old and I've been practising martial arts for over 10 years. Last year I managed to get "Sciatica" in my left leg from kicking too high after a short break in training. I was given pills by my GP but I was having negative side effects so I stopped taking them, and was told to give it time and stretch. A year later, I don't feel pain when doing normal things, the only problem I have is during my training when I do high and technical kicks. I've started an acupuncture treatment (only one session so far) and was told that after 10 sessions that I would be cured, but I've felt nothing yet. As I have a mild case of Sciatica, is 10 sessions a bit too much? I'm a student so getting £200 is far from easy. I would also like to know whether doing some form of massage (Tui Na, Deep tissue massage, etc) or Acupuncture would be better for my mild form of Sciatica? Or if any of you may have any other solutions that had helped you? Thank you for reading!

• Answer:

  I would not do any massage, go to a chiropractor or physical therapy and unfortunately, your martial arts, at least for awhile. I have just come from the hospital on Friday after the implant of a spinal cord stimulator for 15 years of chronic severe pain and numbness of the sciatic nerve. You have damaged yours and it's not going to get any better unless you have an MRI test and see a neuro surgeon.