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Sciatic pain is the result of pressure on the sciatic nerve. This is usually caused by a disc prolapse (slipped disc). When a bulging intervertebral disc presses on the sciatic nerve as it leaves the spine, it causes pain (and often numbness) along the route of the nerve (in the buttock, down the thigh and sometimes down into the lower leg). This can result in a feeling of weakness as well. Since, in most cases, sciatic pain is the result of a disc prolapse, you need to investigate the prolapse next. A disc prolapse is most often the result of a habit of bending badly and in the wrong places. Explore this spine-stressing habit in my article on [|slipped discs]. Find out why it causes discs to bulge and what you can do to [|heal your sciatica]. Read **[|“Getting rid of lower back pain: How to loosen your back up”]** for practical ways to help yourself.

Piriformis Syndrome
That same harmful habit pattern of bending and stressing the spine that so easily causes [|disc prolapses] also tightens the buttock muscles, including piriformis. The sciatic nerve passes underneath the piriformis muscle on its way to your leg. If the piriformis muscle is very tight, it will, when your leg is in certain positions, press on the sciatic nerve. This is another common cause of sciatic pain. Since the same harmful habit patterns are implicated in both disc prolapses and piriformis syndrome, both problems need dealing with in the same way. My [|slipped disc] page describes the habit pattern and goes on to explain why it takes the Alexander Technique to unlearn the pattern and acquire a healthier way of moving. Read **[|“Getting rid of lower back pain: How to loosen your back up”]** for practical ways to help yourself.

Other Causes of Sciatica
Occasionally the pressure on the sciatic nerve may have other causes such as an abscess, blood clot or tumour. These have nothing to do with your habits of movement and you would be wasting your time consulting an Alexander teacher in such cases!

This article is included under the following categories:‒
 * [|Musculo-skeletal articles]
 * [|From bad back to healthy back]

Further Resources
Here are some ways I can help you further.

Wherever you live
> When you subscribe you also get to download “The Hows & Whys of Semi-Supine”. This free e-booklet is indispensable to anyone serious about strengthening their bad back (or further strengthening an already-strong back). > Find out [|more about joining Repoise here].
 * 1) If you’re not already getting my free weekly article delivered to your inbox, then [|go here to get it]. [[image:http://www.smilingbackmethod.com/image/subscribe-main.png width="95" height="22" caption="Subscribe to “Back in Action”" link="http://www.smilingbackmethod.com/free.htm"]]  (It’s free)
 * 1) [|Repoise] is our membership site for people who are serious about improving themselves (and getting out of pain as they do that). When you join, you will:–
 * 2) Have daily access to me. Together we will work out what’s going wrong for you and how to fix it
 * 3) Learn from reading other Repoise members’ questions and following their progress as they work with me
 * 1) I’m writing a book about my work. It will come out on the 1st December 2010. If you’re getting the [|free weekly articles], I’ll send out more details about the up-coming book as soon as the information is available.

If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)

 * 1) I’m also running Friday lunchtime group lessons. [|Go here for details].
 * 2) There’s nothing better than individual lessons. Ring me on 0151 708 6172 to talk to me about booking individual lessons. (Leave your number so I can get back to you).

If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool
> If you’re having plain Alexander Technique lessons from someone else, you still need to learn the Smiling Back Method of the Alexander Technique. You’ll get a lot more out of your lessons when you do.
 * 1) There’s still nothing better than individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you [|in the UK] or [|elsewhere]
 * 2) I suggest you also do the things I listed above for everyone:–
 * 3) Read [|my weekly articles]
 * 4) Get direct day-to-day guidance from me by [|joining Repoise].