Question
Hi, I was told that my sciatic pain is caused by very tight piriformis muscles.  My doctor now prescribe Baclofen to help with the pain relief.  I was wondering what you would suggest I do for pain control.  I am also on Flexerilbut I can only take it at night as it maes me very drowsy.  I do stretches daily and nightly.  I am finally being referred to a neurosurgeon.  What do you think he can do for me?  DO you recommend injections or surgery for pain control?  I have had this condition and chronic pain for about 7 years now.  Please help me get rid of this chronic pain.

Answer
Hello, Donella.

You ask for pain control and I offer something better -- relief from the condition that creates the pain:  tight piriformis muscles.

No drug can correct that problem, neither can surgery, nor can stretching.  You need this approach:

Free yourself from the grip of the postural reflex that keeps your piriformis muscle tight and squeezing upon your sciatic nerve; relax the muscle.

You can get the problem cleared up in one or two visits with a clinical somatic educator or do it yourself (more slowly) by means of somatic exercises, which retrain muscular control and allow you to relax tight muscles.  Time is not a factor.

Please see the article at somatics.com/page4b.htm, on sciatica, for answers and instruction in getting relief, or see somatics.com/practitioners.htm for access to clinical somatic educators.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold