SCIATICA

SCIATICA

The term sciatica describes the symptoms of leg pain and  possibly tingling, numbness or weakness that originates in the  low back and travels through the buttock and down the large  sciatic nerve in the back of the leg.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It is responsible for relaying sensations and movement impulses between the foot/leg/hip and the brain.
The sciatic nerve exits the spinal column from a grouping of nerves in the low back area. This grouping is called a plexus. From the plexus, it begins its journey down the back of the hip to the back of the thigh and then to the foot, branching into smaller nerves as it goes.
The vast majority of people who experience sciatica get better with time (usually a few weeks or months) and find pain relief with non-surgical sciatica treatment. For others, however, sciatic nerve pain can be severe and debilitating.
Sciatica

CAUSE
Nerve inflammation or injury, usually because of pressure from a misaligned spine, a damaged or prolapsed disc, or from osteoarthritis.

SYMPTOMS
A. Pain on one side of the buttock or in one leg that is worse when sitting
B. Burning or tingling down the leg
C. Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
D. A constant pain on one side of the rear
E. A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up or to walk

PREVENTION
Exercise like swimming strengthen the muscles that support the back without putting any strain on it or subjecting it to a sudden jolt, and can prevent and reduce the symptoms of sciatica. Yoga can help improve the flexibility and the strength of the back muscles.

Bad posture can aggravate sciatica. Taking measures to improve it can alleviate pain and swelling:
a) Standing:
Stand upright with a straight back and front-facing head. Weight should be balanced evenly on both feet and legs kept straight.
b) Sitting:
Sit upright with a support, such as a cushion or rolled-up towel in the small of the back. Knees and hips should be level and feet should be flat on the floor, with the aid of a footstool if necessary.
c) Driving:
As with sitting, the back should be properly supported. Correctly position wing mirrors to prevent having to twist the back. Foot controls should be squarely in front of the feet. If driving long distances, regular breaks should be taken to stretch legs.
d) Sleeping:
Sleep on a medium-firm mattress (not too firm). The mattress should be firm enough to support the body while supporting the weight of the shoulders and buttocks, keeping the spine straight. Support the head with a pillow, but make sure the neck is not forced up at a steep angle.
e) Lifting and handling :
To prevent injury-caused sciatica, the correct method for lifting and handling objects should be followed.[13]

How Homeopathic Remedies for Sciatica Work

Homeopathy has numerous remedies for treating sciatica pain. Numerous, because homeopathy treats symptoms based on individuality of the patient. There are different remedies for people depending upon their attitudes, mental state, behaviors, sleeping patterns, lifestyles and of course, the symptoms of the disease
Homeopathic medicines need to be individually prescribed to the unique pattern of symptoms that sick people experience. Few of these symptoms are given below which can be treated effectively by homoeopathic treatment.

1. Pain coming on quickly, especially after exposure to cold or dry cold wind, with anxiety and restlessness.

2. Cramping, lightning-like pains, especially in the right leg. Worse by coughing and  better from heat and pressure.

3. Sciatic pain in the elderly. worse at night around midnight causing restlessness, and better by warmth. Attack brought on by dry cold. Person feels chilly, exhausted and restless, with burning pains relieved by heat.

4. Pain shoots down the right leg, with numbness and weakness, worse in cold or damp weather. Cramps mainly in the left leg, better by very hard pressure.

5. Pain worse when sitting and better by walking and lying. Difficulty straightening the affected leg because the muscle and tendon have contracted.

6.Pain with cramping and pronounced numbness in the affected leg, the numbness alternating with the pain. Better by rest and worse by movement.

7. Shifting, shooting pains, returning regularly, especially in the left leg, with increasing stiffness and difficulty in walking, and worse by both heat and cold.

8. Burning pains shooting into the knee and foot can come any time but especially around 3 a.m., causing cries of pain. Backache with sudden sharp pains extending up and down back and to thighs

9. Cramping, tearing pain often brought on by cold and damp and improved by heat. Pains are worse on initial movement, especially in the morning, but better after limbering up.

10.Pain in the right leg, worse by pressure and lying on the right side.
Pain often comes on 4-8 p.m. Numbness with drawing and tearing pain in limbs, especially while at rest or at night. Cannot lie on painful side.

11. Pain with exhaustion; person is irritable, sleepless and sensitive to every stimulus worse by exertion. Pains, with depression, and subsequent exhaustion.

12. Pain is aggravated from midnight to 2 AM by cold or cold application and improves with heat and heat applications. The patient refuses to take medicine, fears death and is restless.

13. Pain is worse at night and in a hot room.

14. Left-sided pain that worse upon sitting.

15. Worse in evenings or the sciatica is caused by trauma and the patient creates a scene upon arrival of the doctor.

16. Increase in pain by slightest contact, touch, sound or gush of wind. The pain is episodic, beginning in the afternoon and ending at midnight.

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