Sciatica
What is sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from lower back through hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of the body.
What are the causes of sciatica?
Causes of sciatica include:
- A herniated or slipped disc: which is the most common cause of sciatica that causes pressure on a nerve root.
- Piriformis syndrome: which occurs when the small piriformis muscle, which lies deep in the buttocks, becomes tight and spasms, thus putting pressure on and irritating the sciatic nerve.
- Spinal stenosis: that results from narrowing of the spinal canal which puts pressure on the nerves.
- Spondylolisthesis: that occurs when one vertebra slips, so that it is out of line with the one above it, narrowing the opening through which the sciatic nerve exits.
In many cases no cause can be found.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.
Common symptoms of sciatica include:
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
- Hip pain
- Burning or tingling in the leg
- Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
- Constant pain on one side of the rear
- Shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
How is sciatica diagnosed?
The doctor asks you about your medical history, your profession, your daily activities and questions related to your pain such as:
- Where do you feel pain?
- Is it all the way down your leg? Is it in both legs? Does it stop at your knee?
- Rate your pain on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst.
- Are you experiencing weakness or tingling in your legs and/or feet?
- What activities did you recently do?
- What reduces the pain or makes it worse?
Doctor may further advise you to take imaging tests, x-ray, CAT scan and an MRI test.All these tests will give a complete picture to your doctor.
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT-
Homeopathic medicines provide symptomatic relief in sciatica. The medicines are selected basis the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using Homoeopathic holistic approach.
Following remedies are highly effective in the treatment of sciatica:-
- Magnesia Phosphoricum:
- Patient will have a classic sciatica pattern of nerve pain extending from the low back down the back of the buttocks and leg.
- The pain can be cramping (often from overexertion) or sudden, violent, and neuralgic such as cutting, shooting, or sharp, lightning-like pains.
- When the sciatica is on the right side and is better from warmth and pressure, yet the warmth is more relieving than pressure.
- Colocynthis:
- When sciatica is left-sided and the pain is better from warmth and hard pressure, but pressure gives the most relief.
- In their state of violent pain, the person may be angry, indignant, impatient, and easily offended, and they may want to be alone.
- Rhus Toxicodendron:
- Sciatica due to exposure to moist cold weather or from muscular exertion.
- The pain is more on the right side. The sciatic pain is more in bed at night or when at rest.
- First movement gives terrific pain which is relieved after walking a little.
- Gnaphalium:
- Indicated for Sciatica pain associated with numbness.Numbness alternates with sciatica pain.
- There is intense pain in the nerve accompanied by cramps or alternating with numbness.
- The pain is worse from lying and walking and better from sitting.
- The patient experiences pain in calf and feet.
- Guaiacum:
- Guaiacum is tried for sciatica when well selected remedies fail.
- There is gouty, tearing, lancinating pains and feeling of contraction in the affected limb.
- It has acidity, coated tongue, filthy taste and breath.