SCIATICA AND HOMOEOPATHY

Sciatica:

- Pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, which runs down one or both legs from the lower back.

- This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Typically, symptoms are only on one side of the body. Certain causes, however, may result in pain on both sides. Lower back pain is sometimes but not always present. Weakness or numbness may occur in various parts of the affected leg and foot.

- The most common symptom of true sciatica is posterior thigh, lower leg or foot pain that can be much worse than the accompanying lower back pain. Usually a patient will experience moderate to severe pain, which begins in the buttocks and runs down through the leg or foot. It is important to know that true sciatica will produce pain that radiates beyond the knee. 

- Often a patient will have a previous history of lower back pain beginning a few days or weeks before the leg pain occurs, then the leg pain becomes worse than the back pain, and in some cases the back pain will completely disappear.

- About 90% of the time sciatica is due to a spinal disc herniation pressing on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots. Other problems that may result in sciatica include spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, pelvic tumors, and compression by a baby's head during pregnancy.

Homoeopathic Medicine:

Colocynth:

- The most important remedy in sciatica, corresponding to the worst cases.

- There is a sensation which has been described as if the thigh were bound with iron bands, or as though screwed in a vise; the muscles are fearfully tense and fixed.

- There are pains in the sciatic nerve extending the knee or to the heel, worse from any motion, and especially aggravated by cold. The pain is paroxysmal, followed by numbness and partial paralysis.

- Colocynth typifies the sciatica due to nerve changes with no special inflammatory conditions attending it.

- Particularly is the right side involved and there are stitches during walking.

- There is a sense of constriction around the hip. The pains too may come suddenly and leave suddenly, they may be sticking and burning, and all are worse from cold or damp and at night, when the patient can find no easy position for the limb.

- Colocynth typifies the sciatica due to nerve changes with no special inflammatory conditions attending it.

Rhus toxicodendron:

- This remedy typifies sciatic with muscular and ligament involvement.

- It is seldom adapted to recent cases, but comes in later.

- The pains are tearing and burning, worse during rest, alleviated a short time only during motion.

- There is lameness and a disposition to muscular twitching.

- Bowels are constipated.

- It is a rheumatic sciatica, the fibrous sheath of the nerve being involved.

Sciatica arising from over-exposure to wet or from lifting, wrenching and over-exertion. Great relief from warmth.

Brynoia:

- Bryonia has shooting pains worse from motion and relieved by hard pressure. 

- Constipation and thirsty.

- It is a valuable drug in the treatment of sciatica of rheumatic origin.

Aconite:

-The congestive variety of sciatica from exposure to colds, dampness and from suppressed perspiration indicates Aconite.

- There is much numbness, perverted sensation, pricking and a sense of coldness in the parts, especially toes.

- The pains are very severe and worse at night; the patient is restless, there is tingling along the affected nerve.

Chamomilla:

- Chamomilla should be thought of in pure neuralgias of the sciatic nerve with unbearable pains, violent drawing, tearing pains, numbness and the more it pains the hotter the patient becomes.
- Worse at night and by motion.

Nux vomica:

- From its action on the spinal cord, Nux is frequently the remedy in sciatica.

It has lightning-like pains, with which twitching of the parts.

- Violent pains, has to change position; pains shoot down into the foot, the limb is stiff and contracted and the parts feel paralyzed and cold.

- Better when lying on the affected side and from the application of hot water.

- Constipated bowels and sedentary habit.

Belladonna:

- Here the inflammation is high and the pains come on suddenly.

- There is a neuritis, and the course of the nerve is sensitive; the pain is especially severe at night, the parts are sensitive to the touch, the least concussion or a draft of air aggravates.

- Severe lancinating pains coming on in the afternoon or evening; has to change position often; worse from motion, noise, shock or contact; cannot bear the clothing to touch him.
- Pain worse at night, least jar, from hanging limb down, lying down and warmth.

- Relieved by semi-erect posture.

Gnaphalium:

- This remedy is quite similar to Colocynthis. O’Connor thinks it is the best remedy in the absence of the other symptoms and many others consider it specific.

- It has intense neuralgic pains along the nerve, and Numbness. The whole trunk and the main branches seem affected, The pains extend to the toes, worse when lying down, worse from motion, stepping and better whiles sitting in a chair.

Arsenicum:

- The pain is marked by complete intermissions; it exacerbates every night at a particular hour, and becomes unbearable; it is increased by vigorous and relieved by gentle motion. It is aggravated by cold, but relieved momentarily by warmth.

- It is a pure neuralgia, neither inflammatory- toxaemic nor reflex.

- Arsenicum is one of our most reliable remedies in sciatic.

Kali iodatum:

- The pains calling for this remedy are worse at night, and from lying on the affected side, better from motion.

- When of mercurial or syphilitic origin, it is well indicated and may help, but it is not a very reliable remedy.

Ammonium muriaticum:

- Sciatica, with aggravation of pain while sitting, somewhat relieved by walking and entirely relieved by lying down.

- Pains in the left hip as if the tendons were too short.

- Legs feel contracted. limps while walking. Painful jerks, feet feel as if asleep.

Pulsatilla:

- This remedy typifies a sciatica due to venous stasis and is useful in the milder forms where there is a sense of fatigue and heaviness, flying attacks, aching in lions and hips.

And many more remedies are: ruta, coffea, tellurium met, hypericum, stillingia, dioscoria, kalmia, mag phos.

written by: Dr. POOJA PATEL (B.H.M.S.)