Sciatica is a condition which makes the individual to cripple in longer time period. Sciatic pain can make life miserable. Walking, standing, bending over, driving a car, working at a computer, catching up on household chores, sneezing or coughing, and many other activities of daily living can cause sudden and intense pain. Patients who suffer sciatica, especially of a more acute nature, find the symptoms disrupt many aspects of their life.
Sciatica is nerve pain, from irritation of the sciatic nerve. It is typically felt from the low back to behind the thigh and radiating down below the knee and extending down the back of the leg, to the angle and foot. It feels like tingling, or numbness produced by an irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is formed by the nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord into the lower back.
Sciatica is often characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:
- ♦ Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg (rarely in both legs)
- ♦ Pain that is worse when sitting
- ♦ Leg pain that is often described as burning, tingling, or searing (versus a dull ache)
- ♦ Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg, foot, and/or toes
- ♦ A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up or walk
- ♦ Pain that radiates down the leg and possibly into the foot and toes (it rarely occurs only in the foot)
As per ayurveda treatises,'Sciatica' can be compared to 'Gridharsi', due to close resemblance and manifestations of both the conditions.
As per Ayurveda, gridhrasi (sciatica) is explained as one among 80 types of Vata imbalance disorders(neurological / neuro-muscular disorder). The word ‘Gridhrasi’ is derived from the root word – ‘Gridhra’. which means the bird ‘vulture’.
In this disease, the patient’s gait is altered as his legs become tense, and slightly curved. The pain afflicts the lower limbs with stiffness, sensations of pins and needles. Ultimately, patient's walk become similar to the walk of the vulture (gridhra). Hence, the name Gridhrasi has been given.
In this disease, the patient’s gait is altered as his legs become tense, and slightly curved. The pain afflicts the lower limbs with stiffness, sensations of pins and needles. Ultimately, patient's walk become similar to the walk of the vulture (gridhra). Hence, the name Gridhrasi has been given.
Types:
Based on Dosha imbalance, Sciatica ( gridhrasi) is of two kinds-
- ♦ Vataja Gridhrasi
- ♦ Vata-kaphaja Gridhrasi
Diagnosis
Sciatica is diagnosed by physical examination, neurological testing and patient history. Generally, if a patient reports the typical radiating pain in one leg as well as one or more neurological indications of nerve root tension or neurological deficit, sciatica can be diagnosed.
Line of Treatment
Ayurveda effectively treats Sciatica and the associated conditions. It offers excellent Panchakarma therapies along with internal medicines for treating Sciatica. Panchkarma therapies like Shodhana (detoxification treatment), Sthanika (local treatments) are used alongwith Shamana Chikitsa (Palliative treatment or oral medication):
As it is one among Vata disorders, all vata pacifying treatment is given
Snehana (oleation)- application of oil over the affected ares
Swedana (sudation)- sudation with herbal pastes (patrapinda sweda), application of poultice (upanaha sweda) etc.
Mridu samshodhana– mild purgation (Mridu Virechana) is preferred.
Basti (medicated enema) with medicated herbs
Shiravyadha/ Rakta-mokshana (venesection or blood letting)
Agni karma (cautery)- procedure is carried out using a metallic rod.
Swedana (sudation)- sudation with herbal pastes (patrapinda sweda), application of poultice (upanaha sweda) etc.
Mridu samshodhana– mild purgation (Mridu Virechana) is preferred.
Basti (medicated enema) with medicated herbs
Shiravyadha/ Rakta-mokshana (venesection or blood letting)
Agni karma (cautery)- procedure is carried out using a metallic rod.
USEFUL MEASURES:
Do’s when having sciatica:
- ♦ Apply alternate cold and hot packs in the region which is painful
- ♦ Sleep on a firm mattress without using pillow
- ♦ Sleep in a child's position keeping a pillow in between the flexed legs or keep a pillow
- ♦ below the knees while sleeping supine
- ♦ Back Belt and lumbosacral belts should be used to support lower back.
- ♦ Special care should be taken to support lower back with pillow and ergonomic chairs or care products should be used when sitting for long periods.
Don’t’s when having sciatica:
- ♦ Don’t bend down suddenly while sitting or trying to lift an object. Slowly sit down
- ♦ flexing your knees and get up slowly by supporting your hands against the floor.
- ♦ Don’t rush and push with your work since you have a sensitive back
- ♦ Don’t jump and jolt. Be careful while climbing stairs.
- ♦ One should not sit on too hard or too soft surface.
- ♦ Good posture is important
DIET & LIFESTYLE:
Vata pacifying diet should be taken. Food items like Raj maa (kidney beans), peanuts should be avoided. One should avoid suppression of urges, over indulgence in sex, heavy exercising, day sleeping, riding vehicles.
Careful supervision over the etiological factors will help to avoid the chances of affliction of the disease, especially in the professionals like tailors, two wheeler or four wheeler drivers, teachers, guards, chefs, servants, weight lifters etc. After once affliction, it is always better to have the treatment at the earliest as it decreases the working ability of the individuals.
AYURVEDA MANAGEMENT
Treatment in Ayurveda is aimed at restoring the equilibrium through correction of the underlying functional in-equilibrium. It’s important to understand which conditions cause sciatica because sciatica is not a condition, it’s a medical term used to describe symptoms caused by other low back conditions. Ayurvedic treatments for Sciatica concentrate on bringing back the aggravated vata or vata kapha to the state of equilibrium and thereby to the state of health.
Our treatment comprises of three approaches, Elimination (Sodhanam) of the accumulated toxic products of digestion, metabolism and the disease process, Pacification (Samanam) and correction of the entities responsible for altered functioning and Rejuvenation (Rasayanam) of the bodily tissue to regain and maintain natural strength and vitality. The strength of Ayurveda in the area of spine and joint treatments is globally appreciated. We have formulated many effective remedies which provide sustainable results in Sciatica. Since it addresses the root cause of the issue the results are fantastic
Diseases We Treat
- Osteo Arthritis
(Knee Pain etc..) - Rheumatoid Arthritis
(Wrist Pain etc..) - Gouty arthritis
(Joint Pain etc..) - Juvenile Arthritis
- Paralysis
- Reduced Joint Space
- Cervical Spondylosis
- Frozen Shoulder
- Body Stiffness
- Pallindromic Rheumatism
- Myofascial Pain
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Brittle Bone Disease
- Pain in Small Joints
- Raised Uric Acid
- Severe Calcium Deficiency
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