SCIATICA

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in our body. It runs from your spinal cord to your buttock and hip area and down the back of each leg.
Sciatica is low back pain combined with a pain through the buttock and down one leg, along the course os the sciatic nerve. The pain usually goes past the knee and may go farther to the foot. Sometimes, weakness in the leg muscles occurs with sciatica. In addition to pain, which is sometimes severe, there may be numbness, muscular weakness, pins and needles or tingling and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.

Cause-
Sciatica is caused by inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve or nerve roots in the lower spine. It may also be caused by damage to nerve roots. Sciatica is not a disease in itself and its causes are various.
Pressure on the sciatic nerve can result from poor posture, muscle strain, pregnancy, wearing high heels, or being overweight. A herniated disc in the lumbar spine is the most common cause of sciatica.
Another common cause of sciatica is lumbar spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the roots making up the sciatic nerve.
Although isthmic spondylolisthesis is relatively common in adults, it only occasionally causes sciatica. This occurs when a vertebra develops a stress fracture and slips, slightly impinging on the sciatic nerve as it exits the spine. Piriformis syndrome causes sciatica when the sciatic muscle is irritated as it runs under the piriformis muscle in the buttocks. Finally, sacroiliac joint dysfunction can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatica.

Symptoms-
Pain that radiates from lower (lumbar) spine to buttock and down the back of leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Patient may feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow a path from low back to buttock and the back of thigh and calf.
The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. It may be worse during coughing and sneezing, and prolonged sitting also can aggravate symptoms. Usually only one lower extremity is affected.
Sciatica symptoms include-

Numbness or muscle weakness along the nerve pathway in leg or foot. In some cases, patient may have pain in one part of leg and numbness in another.
Tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling, often in toes or part of foot.
A loss of bladder or bowel control. This is a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition that requires emergency care. If patient experience either of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

Diagnosis-
The physician's examination includes the patient's medical history, a review of current medications, a physical and neurologic examination and,
Radiological examinations- x-rays, CT scan and/or MRI is also advised to patient. MR neurography may also help in diagnosis and treatment.
A proper diagnosis requires an analysis of the patient's pain. The patient is often provided a Pain Diagram to illustrate pain distribution and sensation (eg, tingling and burning).

Treatment-
When the cause of sciatica is due to a prolapsed or lumbar disc herniation 90% of disc prolapses will resolve with no specific intervention. Treatment of the underlying cause of the compression is needed.
Treatment consists of treating the pain and the condition that is causing it. Anti-inflammatory medication, analgesics, and usually some form of physical therapy are prescribed.
Along with that measure has to be taken by patient-
1.Do not bend, lift, or sit in a soft, low chair-your pain will get worse.
2.Try a cold pack to see if it helps the pain. After the cold massages, try alternating with heat from an electric heating pad to see if it helps the pain.
3.Lying on back may feel better on a firm surface with a pillow under knees. Another option is lying on side with a pillow between knees to keep back straight. Recliner chair is also helpful.
4.Do activities you are able to tolerate, and do not expect to feel better overnight.

Role of homoeopathy-
Homeopathy as a natural system of medicine offers distinct advantages to the people who suffer from sciatica.
Pain killers only suppress the pain and do not treat the basic cause of sciatica which only homeopathy can cure. The biggest advantage that homoeopathy has is that it is able to treat the pain very effectively and is able to rectify the root cause - the compression or irritation on the sciatic nerve.

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