SCIATICA AND INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROLAPSE (IVDP) – IT HURTS
Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is irritating the root of the nerve, causing the pain. Pain in the leg caused by compression/irritation of either one of five nerve roots which are branches of the sciatic nerve.
Areas
Lower back, buttock, various parts of the leg and even foot.
Symptoms
Pain, numbness, muscular weakness, and difficulty in walking. Symptoms are only felt on one side of the body
Causes
Compression of a lumbar spine nerve root L4 or L5 or sacral nerve roots S1, S2 or S3
Also called lumbar radiculopathy, radiculitis – when accompanied with inflammation from a spinal disc herniation, roughening, enlarging, misalignment of vertebrae , degenerated discs.
Compression of the sciatic nerve due to spinal disc herniation, pressing on one of the sciatic nerve roots. The spinal discs are composed of a spongiform cartilage with a liquid center. The discs separate the vertebrae, thereby allowing room for the nerve roots to properly exit through the spaces between the L4, L5, and sacral vertebrae. The discs cushion the spine from compressive forces, but are weak to pressure applied during rotational movements. That is why a person who bends to one side, at a bad angle, to pick up a piece of paper may more likely herniate a spinal disc than a person falling from a ladder and landing on his or her back. Herniation of a disc occurs when the liquid center of the disc bulges outwards, tearing the external ring of fibers, and compresses a nerve root against the lamina or pedicle of a vertebra, thus causing sciatica.
During late pregancy resulting from the uterus pressing on the sciatic nerve,muscular tension,vertebral compression and postural changes.
Active trigger points of the lower back and the gluteal muscles and pain distribution won’t be from low back but psi pattern all be similar from buttock to legs.Trigger points occur when muscles become ischaemic (low blood flow) due to injury or chronic muscular contraction. The most commonly associated muscles with trigger points triggering sciatic symptoms are: the quadratus lumborum, the gluteus medius, the gluteus minimus, and the deep hip rotators
Spinal Canal Stenosis, acondition wherein the spinal canal (the spaces through which the spinal cord runs) narrows and compresses the spinal cord. This narrowing can be caused by bone spurs, vertebral dislocation, or herniated disc which decreases available space for the spinal cord, thus pinching nerves in the spinal cord that travel to the sciatic nerve and irritating them with friction.
sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle in the buttocks region. When the muscle shortens or spasms due to trauma, it can compress the sciatic nerve. This cause of sciatic symptoms is piriformis syndrome, a major cause of sciatica.
I doubt Its Sciatica….Am I
Pseudo-sciatica” causes symptoms similar to spinal nerve root compression and is caused by the compression of peripheral sections of the nerve, usually from soft tissue tension in the piriformis or related muscles. One possible cause of this is the piriformis syndrome. In this condition, the piriformis muscle, located beneath the gluteal muscles, contracts spasmodically and strangles the sciatic nerve beneath the muscle. Another cause of sciatic symptoms is sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Unhealthy postural habits, such as excessive time sitting in chairs, and sleeping in the fetal position, along with insufficient stretching and exercise of the relevant myofascial areas, can lead to both the vertebral and soft tissue problems associated with sciatica.
Diagnosis
- Clinical examination of patient
- Xray, MRI
Treatment Options- Ayurveda
Because of the many conditions that can compress nerve roots and cause sciatica, treatment options often differ from patient to patient. Treatment of the underlying cause of the compression is often the most effective course. When the cause is due to a prolapsed or lumbar disc herniation, research done at our clinical facility for a period of 10 yrs and 500 patients shown with supportive/coservative treatment to help relieve clinical signs and patient symptom which will prevent surgical procedures.
Ayurvedic approach of treating Sciatica is to reduce the compressive forces causing the pressure upon the sciatic nerve. This can be accomplished through traction and realignment therapeutic procedures in the case where the sciatica is spinal-related.
Manual muscle stretching, massage, mobilization techniques should be used when the sciatica is piriformis muscle-related.
General therapeutic goals include helping the muscles loosen, thereby lessening pain, and to minimize inflammation
Treatment include internal medicines and external physical therapies using different types of herbal combinations .internal medicines support external treatments and fasten healing.
External treatments include different types of sudative procedures and panchakarma procedures to remove stiffness and inflamation of affected area.
Ayurvedic special Bandages, paste applications, traction massages, marma chikitsa , yoga therapy are integrated in chronic injuries.