Sciatica: Nerve pain from irritation of the sciatic nerve

Sciatica refers to leg pain starting from the low back region, along the buttock, down towards the back of thigh and calf which makes standing or sitting difficult.

Sciatic nerve starts in the lower spine and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg. It also provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot. Sciatica occurs when this sciatic nerve becomes pinched, usually by a herniated disc in your spine or by an overgrowth of bone (bone spur) on your vertebrae.

 The pain most often occurs on one side. Sciatica pain may feel like a dull ache, burning sensation, tingling sensation on prolonged standing, sitting, or walking. In some cases, the pain is severe enough to make a person unable to move. The pain even flares up on sneezing, coughing or sometimes laughing. Numbness may also be felt on the back of the calf or on the sole of the foot. The affected leg may feel weak sometimes.

Sciatica is not a disease, it is a symptom of conditions in which sciatic nerve gets irritated. Most common condition is Inter Vertebral Disc Prolapse in which a prolapsed disc of spine compresses the sciatic nerve. Sciatic pain also occurs in Spondylolysthesis where one vertebra slips over the other and in the narrowing of spinal canal. Tests such as straight leg rising can pinpoint which nerve root is affected.

Ayurveda describes sciatica as “Gridhrasi” (Gridhra means Eagle), as the gait of the affected person resembles that of an eagle’s walk and the inflamed nerve appears like eagle’s beak.  According to Ayurveda sciatica is caused by the aggravation of Vata dosha that has resulted from the strain to low back region. Factors such as constipation, cold weather etc. can aggravate this.  Ayurveda treatment aims at bringing back the aggravated dosha to equilibrium and thereby to the state of health.

Dr Pathrose Parathuvayalil, Chief Physician, Parathuvayalil Hospital and Orthopedic Centre, Kerala says that depending on the necessity and condition of the patient different Panchakarma therapies such as Virechana and Vasthy are done in sciatica.  Herbal medications and external therapies which pacify the inflammation such as kadivasthy, medicated lepanams etc. are also done. As Ayurveda addresses the root cause of the issue rather than the symptoms, results are stable.