Complex Injuries

Sciatic Endometriosis

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“Can combining chiropractic treatment with the common therapies of medication, exercise, and/or physical therapy help relieve sciatic endometriosis pain symptoms?”

Sciatic Endometriosis

Sciatic endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial cells (tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus) grow outside of the uterine lining and compress the sciatic nerve. This places stress and pressure on the nerve causing back, pelvic, hip, and leg pain, especially before and during the menstrual cycle. It can also cause pain, irregular periods, and infertility. (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2021)

  • These areas of endometrial tissue growth are also known as lesions or implants.
  • Women with sciatic endometriosis often experience leg pain and weakness around the time of their menstrual cycle. (Lena Marie Seegers, et al., 2023)
  • Sciatic endometriosis can also cause pain when urinating, during a bowel movement, during sex, and fatigue, and irregular vaginal bleeding.

The Sciatic Nerve

  • Typically, endometrial lesions grow and attach to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, intestines, rectum, or peritoneum/abdominal cavity lining. (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2021)
  • The abnormal growth may be caused by higher-than-normal levels of estrogen.
  • Researchers believe that endometriosis is related to retrograde menstruation, which causes menstrual blood to flow back into the pelvis instead of out through the vagina. (World Health Organization. 2023)
  • Sometimes, the cells grow in the area of the pelvis right above the sciatic nerve. (Adaiah Yahaya, et al., 2021)
  • The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body and travels down the back of each leg. (Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2023)
  • When endometrial lesions place pressure on the sciatic nerve, they can cause irritation and inflammation leading to severe pelvic pain, which makes it harder to conceive. (Liang Yanchun, et al., 2019)

Symptoms

Some women with endometriosis experience no symptoms or misinterpret the symptoms as typical premenstrual syndrome/PMS signs. The most common signs and symptoms of sciatic endometriosis include:

  • Difficulty walking or standing.
  • Loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and reflex alteration.
  • Limping.
  • Balance problems.
  • Bloating and nausea.
  • Constipation or diarrhea before or after a period.
  • Painful, heavy, and/or irregular periods.
  • Bleeding between periods.
  • Pain during sex, urination, and bowel movements.
  • Pain in the stomach, pelvis, lower back, hips, and buttocks. (MedlinePlus. 2022)
  • Weakness, numbness, tingling, burning, or dull aching sensations in the back of one or both legs.
  • Foot drop or trouble lifting the front of the foot. (Center for Endometriosis Care. 2023)
  • Infertility.
  • Fatigue.
  • Depression and anxiety.

Diagnosis

Endometriosis, including sciatic endometriosis, typically cannot be diagnosed with a pelvic examination or ultrasound by themselves. A healthcare provider may need to perform a biopsy using laparoscopy and discuss menstrual cycles, symptoms, and medical history.

  • The laparoscopy procedure involves making tiny incisions and taking a tissue sample with tools attached to a thin tube with a camera. (MedlinePlus. 2022)
  • Imaging tests, like magnetic resonance imaging/MRI, and computed tomography/CT scans, can help provide essential information about the location and size of any endometrial lesions. (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2021)

Treatment

Symptoms can sometimes be temporarily relieved with over-the-counter/OTC pain relievers. Depending on the condition and severity a healthcare provider may prescribe hormonal treatment to prevent new endometrial implants from growing. These can include:


Sciatica In Depth


References

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Endometriosis.

Seegers, L. M., DeFaria Yeh, D., Yonetsu, T., Sugiyama, T., Minami, Y., Soeda, T., Araki, M., Nakajima, A., Yuki, H., Kinoshita, D., Suzuki, K., Niida, T., Lee, H., McNulty, I., Nakamura, S., Kakuta, T., Fuster, V., & Jang, I. K. (2023). Sex Differences in Coronary Atherosclerotic Phenotype and Healing Pattern on Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging. Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging, 16(8), e015227. doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.123.015227

World Health Organization. Endometriosis.

Yahaya, A., Chauhan, G., Idowu, A., Sumathi, V., Botchu, R., & Evans, S. (2021). Carcinoma arising within sciatic nerve endometriosis: a case report. Journal of surgical case reports, 2021(12), rjab512. doi.org/10.1093/jscr/rjab512

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Sciatica.

Yanchun, L., Yunhe, Z., Meng, X., Shuqin, C., Qingtang, Z., & Shuzhong, Y. (2019). Removal of an endometrioma passing through the left greater sciatic foramen using a concomitant laparoscopic and transgluteal approach: case report. BMC women’s health, 19(1), 95. doi.org/10.1186/s12905-019-0796-0

MedlinePlus. Endometriosis.

Center for Endometriosis Care. Sciatic endometriosis.

Chen, S., Xie, W., Strong, J. A., Jiang, J., & Zhang, J. M. (2016). Sciatic endometriosis induces mechanical hypersensitivity, segmental nerve damage, and robust local inflammation in rats. European journal of pain (London, England), 20(7), 1044–1057. doi.org/10.1002/ejp.827

Siquara de Sousa, A. C., Capek, S., Howe, B. M., Jentoft, M. E., Amrami, K. K., & Spinner, R. J. (2015). Magnetic resonance imaging evidence for perineural spread of endometriosis to the lumbosacral plexus: report of 2 cases. Neurosurgical focus, 39(3), E15. doi.org/10.3171/2015.6.FOCUS15208

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The information herein on "Sciatic Endometriosis" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.

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