"Sciatica & Homoeopathy"

 Definition: Pain through any of the sciatic nerve is called Sciatica. It generally affects only one side of the legs. It starts through the course of sciatic nerve like from buttock to leg. Generally it affects one leg at a time. Sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. 

                                                                       Fig-Sciatic nerve 

*Pain is generally due to compression of the sciatic nerve from herniated disc, bone spur or narrowing

of the spine. Patient may also feel numbness in the affected leg. 

*The word "Sciatica" is exactly used for pain originated due to injury to the sciatic nerve but now a days any pain started from lower back to the leg is called sciatica.

*Sciatica is a common complaints that people are suffering from. Almost 40% people suffer from it. And its a symptom not the condition. 

 *Most of the pregnant ladies may get the sciatica during their pregnancy because of hormone which causes loosening of the ligaments resulting unstable spine.And finally chances of slip disc increased.

                                                             Fig-Sciatica in pregnant lady 

*Anyone between the age group of 30-50 yrs may get the sciatica. 

Symptoms: 

1. Location-Pain starts from the lumbar region of spine & radiates to buttock & down towards the leg. This is the "Hallmark of Sciatica". Sometime pain also radiates to front of the leg.

1. Character- There will be an excruciating kind of pain from mild to severe . Sometime patient has burning sensation and sometime its like electric shock.Pain  may be sometime constant or comes & goes suddenly. 
2. Sensation- There is a numbness or tingling sensation in the affected leg.

Causation: There are two(2) major reasons for compression of sciatic nerve to cause pain. 

1) Herniated Disc of spine 2)Spinal Stenosis and 3) Very rarely a Tumor in spine.

Herniated Disc of spine- This is the most common cause of the sciatica. It creates a pressure on the nerve root. Because of this pressure on the root the nerve, central part of the vertebral disc which is gel like,bugling out through the vertebra & compresses the sciatic nerve. About 1-5% people have slip disc at certain level in their life.

                                                                 Fig-Vertebral disc

Spinal Stenosis- Spinal stenosis is a degenerative disc disease which reduces the space between the vertebrae. Because of this low available space, there would be pressure on the spinal cord & nerves. This is very common in old age group people. 

                                                                     Fig-Spinal Stenosis   

Spondylolisthesis-When one vertebra overlaps over the another, this condition is called spondylolisthesis. Due to this, space for the nerve entry is reduced & it can pinch out the sciatic nerve. 
Trauma/Injury- Any trauma or injury to sciatic nerve may cause the sciatica. 
Tumor- Any tumor in the spine especially in lumbar area may compress the sciatic nerve and resulting in sciatica.

                                                                Fig-Spinal Tumor

Piriformis Syndrome- This is very rare & uncommon neuromuscular syndrome in which piriformis muscle becomes tight enough placed deep in buttock.This muscle is placed directly above the sciatic nerve and it causes pressure or irritation on the sciatic nerve if gets affected like spasm.  

Risk Factors: 

1. Age- whatever problems  you are suffering from, there is always an age related risk factor  & same in sciatica too. With the advancement of age, there is narrowing of the spine resulting in bone spur causing the compression to the sciatic nerve resulting in pain. 
2. Obesity-Obesity is one of leading rick factor behind most of the problem like Hypertension, Diabetes etc. Excess fat due to obesity creates a pressure upon the sciatic nerve resulting in sciatica. 
3. Occupation-Sometime your occupation may also play a risk factor for sciatica. Occupation like caring heavy loads, making your body twisting frequently may affect your sciatic nerve but it rarely happens. 
4. Sitting- Sitting for a long time in a position may also affect your sciatic nerve. This is found in slow active people more than in active people.
5. Diabetes-with diabetes chances of nerve damage increases & that increases the chances of sciatica.

Complication: In most of the cases people get recovered from sciatica either with home remedies or if not done, some simple treatment. Its very rarely complicated in following forms. 

1. Complete benumb condition of the affected leg resulting in Drop Foot.
2. Weakness of the affected limb 
3. Bowel or bladder function hampered 

Diagnosis: We may diagnose the sciatica with numbers of laboratory tests available as of now. But it all depends on the need that test the basis of the symptoms of the patient. 

                                                                   Fig-SLR Test

1. Straight Leg Raise Test-This is the clinical procedure where you have to lie on the floor straight overr you back on the floor & both legs should be straight. Then slightly raise your leg keep it stretched as maximum as you can, if you feel at certain point then  mark that point  because that may be the pin point for nerve involvement. 
2. X-ray- A simple pain x-ray of spine may figure out the bone spur or herniated disc.
3. MRI- With this procedure we can see the cross section images of the spine & a details study of bone and soft tissue.
4. Electromyography(EMG)-This is the confirmatory diagnosis to find out the narrowing of spine via impulses produces by the nerve & your muscles responses. 

Management & Treatment:

Managements

1. Exercise-Doing regular exercise is the most important preventive measure for sciatica. 
2. Posture-Sitting posture is also very important to maintain your muscles curve & alignments. 
3. Cold packs- Cold application over the affected area may relieve your pain. This should be done 3-4 times in a day.
4. Hot packs- Sometime hot application may also give some relieve. You can use it as per your comfort. 

Treatments

A)Conventional Mode of Treatment: 

Most of the consulting physicians practicing the old school medicine and give the muscle relaxants & medicines depending upon your level of your pain. 

Depending upon the cases anti-inflammatory drugs & corticosteroid injections are also given to relieve the pain &swelling of the affected nerve. 

If you are responding to the above the line of treatments, your physician may think about the surgery but its very rarely indicated. If your pain is at the severe level with extreme weakness of lower extremities & also you have somewhat lost the bladder & bowel control, then only your doctor may advise the surgery for you. But you doctor consider the surgery within a year of your sufferings. Now in this regards, two(2) kind of surgeries are considered:-

1)Microdisectomy-

   This kind of surgery is especially performed when the herniated disc is the cause of sciatic nerve. It is one the minimal invasive surgery via which a fragment of herniated disc is removed,which is responsible for creating a unnecessary pressure on the sciatic nerve. 

2)Laminectomy-

   This kind of surgery is performed to remove the lamina of the vertebra because in some cases it may cause the pressure on the sciatic nerve. 

 

B)Alternative Mode of Treatment-Homoeopathy:

As I always say, there are many modes of treatment available in our great country India for any kind of diseases.

But people mostly prefer to take it from Old School of Medicine(Allopathy) as their first choice and when some percentage of them do not get any satisfied results , they would take a move to other options available in medical field.

Yes, here we are talking about the world's 2nd largest practicing system of medicine called Homoeopathy.But it does not mean that you should not take Old School of Medicine in your first choice because here I am just expressing the people's thought that I have been seeing in my day to day practice.

Homoeopathy has a great scope for treating the every kind of disease for last 200 years. And had been giving the wonderful satisfied results so SCIATICA can be also treated & managed very well in Homoeopathy. And yes, it does mean that you have to stick to the treatment for a longer period. Its a magical treatment & its the only  pathy which can cure the Sciatica forever. 

If other health conditions is a cause,medical treatment is necessary accordingly. 

Medically there are many treatments available in market as of now with different names as per the different company establishments but motive of  all those treatments available in the medical field is only to give a better relieve not the cure.

Following medications  you may opt for your sciatica. So, before opting any kind of treatment you should have a proper consultation with Dr.

 

You may consider following remedies as per their indications:-

1. Ammonium mur: Severe long continued sciatica, pain in left side, > by slight walking & relieved by lying down . Tearing,stitching & ulcerative pain in heels> by rubbing , < at night in bed. 
2.  Angustura: Boring & laming type of pain along the sciatic nerve on the posterior part of thigh. When stretching , a pressing kind of tension in the anterior muscle of thigh. 
3. Argentum nitricum: Ischias antica,cramp like pain from hip down to knee, paralytic weakness of limb < mornings but especially after dinner.
4. Calcarea carb: Sciatic pain caused by working in water, < from limb hanging down and > by elevating the knees.  

                                                     *Homoeopathy-All In One*