Are You Suffering from Sciatica?
Do you experience any of the following symptoms?
- Pain in the buttocks or back of the thigh when walking
- Sharp pain in the buttocks or legs when turning over in bed
- Pain in the buttocks or back of the thigh after sitting for a long time
- You have been diagnosed with sciatica and are taking medication, but the pain has not improved
- You are concerned about taking pain medication for a long period of time
- You would like to improve your sciatica with a gentle treatment approach rather than relying only on medication
If any of these concerns sound familiar, please read on.
At Elle Acupuncture in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, we provide acupuncture treatment for sciatica using trigger point acupuncture combined with Traditional East Asian Medicine. Treatment is tailored to each patient’s symptoms and physical condition.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is one of the largest and longest nerves in the human body. It runs from the lower back through the buttocks and down the back of the thigh toward the lower leg and foot.
When the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, pain, numbness, or tingling may occur in the buttocks, back of the thigh, calf, or leg. These symptoms are commonly referred to as sciatica.
Sciatica can be associated with conditions such as a lumbar herniated disc or lumbar spinal stenosis. In some cases, tension in the muscles of the lower back and buttocks may also contribute to or aggravate the symptoms.
Trigger Point Acupuncture for Sciatica
At Elle Acupuncture, we use trigger point acupuncture as one of our treatment approaches for patients with sciatica.
Trigger points are sensitive areas within tight or tense muscles that may contribute to local or referred pain.
For example, pain felt in the back of the thigh does not necessarily mean that treatment should focus only on the thigh. Trigger points in the muscles of the buttocks may be related to pain that is felt farther down the leg.
For this reason, we do not focus only on the area where the pain is felt. We carefully assess the condition of the muscles in the lower back, buttocks, and thighs and apply acupuncture to areas that may be contributing to the patient’s symptoms.
Our goal is to reduce excessive muscle tension and help relieve pain associated with sciatica.
A Whole-Body Approach Based on Your Individual Condition
Sciatica symptoms may be influenced not only by muscles and nerves but also by factors such as stress, sensitivity to cold, and changes in the weather.
At Elle Acupuncture, we therefore combine trigger point acupuncture with principles of Traditional East Asian Medicine. Treatment is customized according to each patient’s symptoms and overall physical condition.
When Stress Makes Sciatica Worse
Some people notice that their pain becomes more severe when they are under physical or emotional stress.
In these cases, acupuncture may be applied to points traditionally used to promote relaxation and reduce physical tension.
When the body becomes more relaxed, excessive muscle tension may also decrease, which may help relieve symptoms associated with sciatica.
When Cold Weather Makes the Pain Worse
Some patients find that their sciatica becomes worse when their body feels cold.
For these patients, we may place heated hot stones on selected acupuncture points to provide gentle warmth.
Warming the body may help promote local circulation and relaxation. At Elle Acupuncture, hot stones may be used instead of moxibustion when appropriate.
When Rainy Days or Typhoons Make the Pain Worse
Some people notice that their pain becomes worse on rainy days or when a typhoon is approaching.
From the perspective of Traditional East Asian Medicine, changes associated with damp weather are traditionally considered to affect the body’s circulation and fluid balance.
For patients whose symptoms tend to worsen in humid or rainy weather, acupuncture points may be selected according to their individual condition with the aim of supporting overall balance.
Acupuncture for Sciatica in Tokyo, Ikebukuro
At Elle Acupuncture in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, we do not simply treat the location where pain is felt.
By combining trigger point acupuncture with Traditional East Asian Medicine, we carefully assess the muscles of the lower back, buttocks, and legs while also considering each patient’s overall physical condition.
If you have been suffering from persistent sciatica, or if you are looking for an approach that does not rely solely on medication, please feel free to contact Elle Acupuncture in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
We provide individualized acupuncture treatment with the goal of reducing pain and helping you return to a more comfortable daily life.
Profile of Director Hiroko Abe
The director of Elle Acupuncture is a licensed acupuncturist with 31 years of Acupuncture らexperience. She has studied not only in Japan but also in the United States and China, acquiring a broad range of knowledge and techniques in acupuncture treatment. Based on this extensive experience, she provides individualized acupuncture treatment tailored to each patient’s symptoms and condition.
In addition to trigger point acupuncture for pain relief, Acupuncture provides acupuncture treatment for a wide range of conditions, including menopausal symptoms, autonomic nervous system disorders, post-COVID conditions, intractable skin disorders, Parkinson’s disease, hemiplegia following cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage, facial nerve paralysis, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and other difficult-to-treat conditions.
Elle Acupuncture
Access
7-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Ikebukuro Station (Yamanote Line)
Address
Lions Mansion Higashi-Ikebukuro No. 3, Room 502
1-31-13 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
Japan
Please make your appointment by LINE or email.
Business Hours
Reception Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Treatment Fees
- Acupuncture Treatment: From ¥9,900 per session
- The base fee of ¥9,900 includes up to 30 acupuncture needles.
- If more than 30 needles are required, an additional ¥1,100 will be charged for every 10 extra needles.
Discount Package
10-Treatment Package: ¥88,000
