Overview Sciatica
Sciatica is related to a nerve called sciatic nerve which is considered as longest nerve of the body. Sciatica is name given to pain in the area of distribution of sciatic nerve (l4 to s3), which is commonly felt in buttock and over the poster lateral aspect of leg. It is severe pain with radiation in the leg along the course of sciatic nerve felt at the back of the thigh and running down inside of leg. According to Ayurveda it is called Gridhrasi.
There are many persons suffering from sciatica. About 40% of population will experience the sciatica at some time during their lives. In Bhojpuri language it as called Sataka means stick because the person suffering from this feels his leg pulling like stick and pain.
What Are The Causes Of Sciatica?
- Sciatica or sciatic neuritis is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression that may be caused by general compression or irritation of one of the five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve or by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve itself.
- One cause of sciatica is spinal disc herniation, pressing on one of the sciatic nerve roots. Herniation of disc occurs when liquid center of the disc bulges outwards tearing the external ring of fibers, extrudes the spine canal and compresses a nerve root against the lamina or pedicle of vertebra, thus causing sciatica.
- The risk of self-inflicted sciatica has increased in recent years with for instant sitting on a wallet or feet for prolonged hours every day which can cause self-inflicted sciatica. Symptoms of numbness or pain behind the knee cap are the associated features. Work-related sciatica may be caused by the use of tool belts which hang around the hips and cause significant misalignment of the sacral vertebrae over a long time period.
What Are The Symptoms Of Sciatica?
- This condition may be abruptly or gradually and is characterized by a sharp shooting pain running down the back of the thigh.
- Pain may be uniformly distributed along the limb but frequently there are certain spots where it is more intense.
- Numbness and tingling may be present and the nerve may be extremely sensitive to touch.
- If pressure is more in the nerve, numbness will be felt.
Treatment For Sciatica
The cause of the symptoms should be determined if possible and treated with appropriate intervention.
Most Cases Of Sciatica Can Be Treated One Or More Of Following
- Anti-inflammatory Medications
- Non-surgical spinal decompression Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Stretching exercise Massage therapy
Herbal Medicine For Sciatica/Gridhrasi
- To ease the patient, tamarind soaked in salt water, churned , filtered and boiled
- To paste like consistency should be applied warm to the affected led.
- Crush 5 garlic cloves, put this in 50ml of til oil, allow it to become lukewarm and apply on the affected areas of pain.
- One good home remedy for sciatica is the regular application of castor oil to the sole of the affected side. Oil should be made lukewarm before application. Regular practice of the gives good relief.
- The good home remedy is bed rest.
Ayurvedic Remedies Of Sciatica
- Simhanad guggulu is good remedy. Two pills should be taken twice a day after meals with a cup of warm milk.
- Maha vishagarbha tailam, an external oil should be applied over the areas of pain before going to bed daily. An early morning warm water reduces the inflammatory and pain considerably.
- Godanta mishram along with punarnava guggulu is very effective.
- Brihat vat chintamani ras 1 tab 2 to 3 times daily with maharasnadhi kwath is very effective in acute cases.