Ayurvedic management of Sciatica

Sciatica is a painful condition of the lower back and the
legs. It is not a muscular or skeletal condition but a nervous disorder because
of a painful nerve that runs from the lower back through the legs. When the
sciatic nerve gets irritated, pressed or pinched due to various causes
including injury. It is characterized by one sided pain in the back and in one
leg. Ayurveda can effectively target sciatic pain at its origin and improve
symptoms gradually. This article enlists an introduction to sciatica, its
causes and symptoms, and appropriate ayurvedic management of sciatica based on
herbal medications.

Introduction

Lower back pain is common in adults all over the
world. While women may blame it on their hormones and phases of the menstrual
cycle, men usually associate all back pain with posture and desk job. But when
this pain intensifies in one side of the back and can also be felt in the leg
connected with that side, this indicates a more serious condition, sciatica.
Sciatica gets its name from the longest nerve originating from the spine – the
sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve originates from the lower lumbar and upper
sacral nerves, and runs down until the lower legs on both sides of the body.
Sciatica pain also originates at the origin of the sciatic nerve and follows
the course of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be felt in one or both of the
legs. It is caused by a variety of reasons including injury, inflammation, or
compression. Sciatica is a chronic condition.

Although sciatica can cause extreme pain and
discomfort, it can still be managed with care at home. A therapeutic movement
routine in addition to naturally formulated herbal remedies can reduce symptoms
and even eliminate the cause to a great extent. Only in extreme cases with many
complications need medical treatment.

Symptoms

• Pain
  feels like electric current
• Excruciating
  pain
• Numbness
• Pain near the
  lower back
• Pain
  originates from near the buttock
• Pain in the
  back of any leg
• Activities
  like walking, standing, climbing the stairs intensify pain
• Lost or
  reduced flexibility in lower body
• Inability to
  do activities like mopping
• Inability to
  do the laundry
• Inability to
  lift things like grocery and toddlers
• Pain is
  continuous throughout the leg

Causes & Risk Factors

Various factors contribute to the development of
any condition in an individual. Those could originate from one’s lifestyle or
routine, or be present due to family history. Some other factors decide the
severity and susceptibility of a condition affecting a particular individual.
We call these factors as causes and risk factors. Causes and risk factors of
sciatica can be interrelated.

• Compression of
  nerve root : each nerve root originates between two vertebras. It can be
  compressed or pinched between them and cause pain.
• Abnormal narrowing of the
  spine : the spine can narrow as it progresses downwards.
• Obesity or overweight
  : extra weight on the body
  puts extra pressure on the spine which causes nerve pinching.
• Extra abdominal weight due to
  pregnancy : later stages of pregnancy can cause extra weight on the abdominal
  region of a woman, due to the baby being heavy. This changes the posture of the
  woman and can cause nerve compression in the lower back.
• Lack of physical activity
  : when one doesn’t move
  enough during the day, their nerve health also suffers and it is easier for
  such people to get sciatica.
• Desk job : desk job not only
  reduces one’s physical activity but also makes them pay less attention to their
  posture while sitting.
• Poor posture : an abnormal form of the
  spine during any activity can put unnecessary pressure on it and at harmful
  angles.
• Vertebral disc diseases
  : there are jelly-like
  small discs fitted between every two vertebras. They can get deformed and harm
  the nerves around them.
• Herniated discs : herniation of spinal
  disc is a similar deformity that can badly affect nerve roots.
• Injury to the spine
  : accidental injury to the
  spine can damage many nerves and affect their coordination.
• Using soft and bouncy
  mattresses : it reduces the body’s capacity to deal with even the most minimal
  environmental stress.
• Overuse of high heeled shoes
  : high heeled shoes put
  the foot in an unrealistic position which damages nerves of the legs especially
  the sciatic nerve.
• Age-related osteoarthritis of
  the spine : the spine can get weaker with age, putting extra pressure on the
  nerves.
• Diabetes : diabetes damages nerves
  badly, especially chronic diabetes. It causes loss of sensation in nerves.
• Other neuromuscular
  conditions such as fibromyalgia.
• Medications
  of nervous disorders : they are strong and suppress normal functioning
  of the nervous system, which hinders the process of pain sensation and worsens
  all symptoms.

Complications

Sciatica can be managed well. But if initial
symptoms are ignored and multiple conditions are present, sciatica can cause:

• Permanently
  dysfunctional leg
• Loss of all sensation
  in the leg
• Loss of control relating to bowels and urination