Ramanathan, 42, had been suffering from persistent lower back discomfort that had spread to the back of his left leg, causing a severe throbbing and burning sensation behind the knee. When bending forward or reaching out, the pain was exacerbated. He continued to use strong non-steroid pain relievers that made him drowsy but didn’t provide complete pain relief. How commonly we hear this, but one needs to know Low back and leg pain could be sciatica !!!
Low back pain is becoming the most frequent musculoskeletal condition. Sciatic pain is a disorder with low back pain that spreads through the hip, to the back of the thigh, and down the inside of the leg. There are many causes for low back pain, however, true sciatica is a symptom of inflammation or compression of the sciatica nerve. Due to injury or compression of the sciatic nerve, sciatica is a common cause of low back pain.
Symptoms of sciatica
Pain in the lower back and a constant dull ache Weakness in the thigh, leg, and foot muscles is possible. Restriction in lifting the affected leg -generally tested by SLR test
- The pain may spread to the feet or toes.
- Numbness in the thighs.
- Pricking sensation on the skin.
- Recurrent discomfort in the lower back.
- A tingling sensation in the toes and feet.
Causes of sciatica
Sciatica is a common symptom of several different medical conditions
however, an estimated 90 percent of cases are due to a herniated (slipped) disk.
Lumbar spinal stenosis – narrowing of the spinal cord in the lower back.
Spondylolisthesis – a condition where a disk slips forward over the vertebra below it.
Other causes – for instance, injury within the spine, infection
In many cases of sciatica, there is no single obvious cause.
Factors Contributing to Sciatic Nerve Pain
A common risk factor is an age – people in their 30s and 40s are more likely to develop sciatic pain. When it comes to occupation, it is more common in jobs that require lifting heavy loads for extended periods of time. Sedentary people, who sit for long periods of time and are physically inactive, are more likely to develop sciatica than active people.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Sciatica Pain
First-line Ayurvedic Treatment for Sciatica Pain typically includes some combination of physical therapy, medications, therapeutic injections, and alternative therapies.
Treatment comprises three approaches:
- Physical Therapy to immediately reduce pain and inflammation
- Ayurveda herbs and medicines for sciatica
- Rejuvenation (Rasayana) for maintaining natural strength and vitality.