Sciatica, a nerve pain potentially reduces the quality of life.

Be careful, if we start feeling pain in our hip,

radiates down to our thigh, leg and sole !

Understand all about body’s pains,

In conjunction with to treat them properly.

Sciatic nerve: is the main nerve located in the back & traveling down the leg, It 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 bottom surface (sole) of the foot.

Sciatica: is a condition involving pain associated with sciatic nerve, if we suddenly feeling pain in our lower back or hip that radiates down from the buttock to the back of one thigh and into leg and the bottom face of the foot (sole), we may have problem of a protruding disk in our lower spinal column (lumbar spine) pressing on the roots of the sciatic nerve, causes sciatic nerve pain or sciatica. The nerve pain may occur when we sit down, sneeze or cough.

Different causes of Sciatica:

1. Usually originates higher along the spinal cord when the nerve roots become compressed: prolonged external pressure on the nerve, and pressure on the nerve from nearby body structures.
2. Sciatica can also be caused due to a slipped disk of the vertebral column, such as injured by fracture of the pelvis.
3. Direct trauma to the thighs or buttocks, like prolonged sitting or lying with pressure on the buttocks, which causes damage of the nerve root.
4. Sciatica can also be caused by pressure on the nerve where the nerve passes through a narrow structure, so that the damage (caused by pressure) slows or prevents conduction of the impulses through the nerve.
5. Systemic disease like diabetes, can damage many different nerves, including the sciatic nerve.
6. Pressure caused by tumors.
7. Pressure caused by abscesses.
8. Pressure caused by bleeding in the pelvis.
9. In many cases, no cause can be identified.

Sciatic nerve damage or dysfunction (named sciatica) can causes: weakness of the knee bending (flex), weakness of foot movements, difficulty bending the foot toward the inside (inward), difficulty bending the foot downward, weakness or absent of ankle lift bending. Symptoms can include pricking (tingling), without the power to feel (numbness), or pain, which radiates to the buttocks, legs, and feet.

Symptoms of Sciatica:

1. Sensation changes: decreased sensations, or abnormal sensations, burning sensations, on the back of the calf (back part of the leg below the knee), or on the bottom surface of the foot (the sole), having no power to feel (numbness), pricking or tingling, severe pain.
2. Weakness of the knee and foot: difficulty walking, inability to bend the knee, inability to move the foot, abnormal reflexes.

Various optional ways to heal Sciatica nerve pains:

The causes of the nerve dysfunction should be well identified, so that they can be treated properly, in some cases treatment is not required, only needs a few days of bed rest while the inflammation goes away, the condition usually heals itself, recovery can be occurred spontaneously, give enough time and rest, put gentle heat or cold on painful muscles, be as active as possible because motion helps to reduce inflammation.

1. Surgical removal of lesions that press on the sciatic nerve, such as herniatic disc, may relieve symptoms, if severe injury to the nerve such as tearing of the nerve (laceration) occurred, recovery may be not possible or very limited. With X-rays or imaging tools such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) doctor can diagnose which sciatic nerve roots are affected.
2. Injection : with steroids can be reduced inflammation around the sciatic nerve, or nerve inflammation related to a herniated disc.
3. Anti-convulsant drugs: Phenytoin-Na, Carbamazepine.
4. Anti-depressant drugs: Amitriptyline combination with major tranquilliser Perphenazine.
5. Muscle relaxant drugs: Eperizone HCl, Rocuronium Bromide, Vecuronium Bromide, Pancuronium Bromide, Baclofen, Succinylcholine Chloride, Tizanidine HCl, Chlorzoxazone, Suxamenthoniusm Chloride, Atracurium besylate.
6. Physical therapy exercises to maintain muscle strength, physical exam may help pinpoint the irritated nerve root., the use of braces, splints made of wood or metal, orthopedic shoes may help compensate for impaired function.
7. Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Medications (NSAIDs), or Over The Counter (OTC) Analgesic drugs: Paracetamol (Acetaminophen), Acetyl-Salicylic-Acid (Aspirin), Methamizole, Mefenamic Acid, Tramadol-HCl, Ibuprofen, Benocrylate.
8. Topical Analgesic pain relievers: in the form of ointments, balms, creams, liniments, plasters, patches, can help to reduce the symptoms of pains (symptomatic healings) including sciatic nerve pain, due to their properties of improving as well as accelerating the blood circulation on the affected areas, will directly effects reducing of the pain sensation, they contain Wintergreen Oil / Methyl Salicylate, Menthol, Camphor, Capsicum Oleoresin (Capsicum longum), Natural Herbal Essential Oils, such as Nutmeg Oil (Myristica fragrans), Zingiber Oil (Zingiber officinalis), Clove Oil (Eugenia caryophyllata), Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita, Mentha arvensis), Citronella Oil (Cymbopogon nardus).

Methyl Salicylate: Natural Wintergreen Oil: macerated in water follows with steam distillation of the leaves of plant Gaultheria procumbens familia : Ericaceae, contains Methyl Salicylate, which has the action of salicylate, as topical analgesic, it is absorbed through the skin and is applied undiluted (original, pure) or in liniments, ointments, balms, creams, for the relief of pain in lumbago, sciatica and rheumatic conditions.

Menthol: Natural leuvo Menthol obtained from the volatile oils of various species of Mentha Plant familia Labiatae, such as Mentha piperita, Mentha Arvensis. Menthol also can be made synthetically, as synthetic leuvo menthol or racemic menthol, it occurs as colorless crystals or crystalline powder with penetrating odor resembling that of Peppermint and a warm aromatic taste followed by a local sensation of cold. Menthol is usually used as an ointment combined with Camphor, when applied to the skin it dilates the blood vessels, causing a sensation of coldness followed by an analgesic effect to
relieve pain. It has been used for rheumatic pains, neuralgia and other nerve pains.

Camphor: Natural Camphor is optically dextro-rotatory, obtained by distillation from Plant Cinnamomum camphora, familia Lauraceae, Camphor also can be made synthetically, the synthetic Camphor is optically leuvo-rotatory. Camphor is colorless, transparent white crystals, or crystalline masses blocks, with penetrating characteristic aromatic odor and pungent aromatic followed by sensation of cold, Camphor acts as a rubefacient and mild analgesic, applied externally as a counter irritant in fibrositis neuralgia, and the likes.

Also Read:

All About Body Pains
Trigeminal Neuralgia, Select the most suitable healing method.
How to avoid Muscle Cramps, the most common muscle ache symptoms!
Stiff Neck, and How to cure it.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the most common nerve problem affected person's hand

Trigeminal Neuralgia, Select the most suitable healing method.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a kind of Cranial Nerve Pain,

One of the most excruciating pains that can be experienced,

Long lasting Trigeminal Neuralgia will

severely reduce the patient’s quality of life!

Neuralgia is pain in a nerve pathway, a painful disorder of the cranial nerves, neuralgia is not an illness in its own right, but a symptom of injury, in many cases the cause of the pains are not known, every one are experience with neuralgia, usually temporary and tend to ease within a few days, some type of neuralgia are longer lasting, making the patient’s quality of life is severely reduced.

Neuralgia generally causes short time of excruciating (very painful) pain, usually less than 2 minutes on one side of the face only, simple stimulant such as talking, eating, washing the face, any light touch, gentle breeze can trigger an attack, many patients will have a muscle spasm. Neuralgia is a form of chronic pain and can be extremely difficult to diagnose, patients show no abnormalities, because of the attacks generally lasting in a very short time, made the patients difficulty to see a doctor before the attack is over. Postherpetic neuralgia is the easiest to diagnose because it follows an obvious cause that is shingles.

Neuralgia is especially rare in persons under 30 years old, women are more likely to be affected than men, persons who are over 50 years old are at the greatest risk. In some cases multiple sclerosis is related to nerve damages, causing pains, diagnosis is usually based on the description of the symptoms.

Symptoms of Neuralgia:

1. local pain
2. the affected area is very painful (excruciating), sensitive to touch, any pressure is felt as pain.
3. the pain can be sharp or intense, depends on the affected nerve.
4. the affected are is still functional
5. the muscle may spasm.

Neuralgia can be divided into:

1. Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia: this kind of neuralgia may be the most misdiagnosed form of neuralgia, the symptoms can be misdiagnose for Migraines, dental problems, musculoskeletal disorders, hypochondriasis, infections of the teeth or sinuses, vascular compression, physical trauma, past viral infections could also be the cause, this form of neuralgia can also cause pain in the back of the scalp and neck. The pain can cause nausea, so beside need to treat the pain, it is important to be got adequate rest and good nutrition.
2. Trigeminal neuralgia: a atypical facial pain, a condition that usually affects one side of the face only, the affected nerves are responsible for sensing touch, temperature and pressure in the facial area from the jaw to the forehead, trigeminal neuralgia is said to be one of the most painful medical conditions, the pain maybe severe enough to cause spasms of the facial muscle, trigeminal neuralgia causes include multiple sclerosis, or a tumors that are pressing against the nerve. Nearly all cases of typical Trigeminal Neuralgia are caused by blood vessels (large or small) compressing the trigeminal nerve root as it enters the brain stem.
3. Occipital neuralgia: cause by irritation of the main nerve that runs from the back of the skull, the type of pain is localized on the back of the head, but sometime may include the forehead. Occipital neuralgia causes by the tense of muscles or ligaments that presses against the nerve, causing irritation, inflammation and pain, other causes may include trauma of the neck, bad posture, and viral infections.
4. Post-herpetic neuralgia: caused by shingles or herpes (viral disease: Herpes zoster), can be more painful than singles, the pain can last for months, even years, postherpetic neuralgia is not restricted to the face only, it can also occur anywhere on the body, but usually occurs at the location of the shingles rash.

Opotional Treatments for all kind of Neuralgia:

1. Pain relieving medications / Analgesics: Acetyl-salicylic-acid (known as aspirin), Acetaminophen, Paracetamol, Mefenamic Acid, Methampirone, Tramadol-Hydrochloride, Codein, Fentanyl, Ketorolac tromethamine.
2. Treatment for the underlying cause: such as dental treatment, antibiotic for tooth abscess, surgery to remove bone from pressing against the nerve.
3. Anticonvulsant drugs: Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine, Valproic acid, Divalproex Na, Phenytoin Na, Lamotrigine, Primidone, Gabapentin, Clonazepam, Vigabatrin, Topiramate.
4. Antidepressant Drugs: Clomipramine, Fluoxetine HCl, Amoxapine, Citalopram, Moclobemide, Perphenazine, Sertraline, Imipramine.
5. Topical pain relievers: ointments, balms, creams, Pain relieving Patch, these over the counter (OTC) pain reliever medications help to reduce the symptoms of the illness, not healing the causes, but only help reduce pain by improving and accelerating the blood flow / blood circulation on the affected areas. These kind of medications usually contain Methyl Salicylate, Menthol, Camphor, and Essential Oils.
6. Surgery: to desensitize the nerves and block the messages.
7. Physical therapy: physiotherapy, chiropractic (chiropractor treatment).
8. Alternative therapy: such as meditation, hypnosis, acupuncture.

Also Read :

All about Body Pains.

Sciatica, a nerve pain potentially reduces the quality of life.
How to avoid Muscle Cramps, the most common muscle ache symptoms!
Stiff Neck, and How to cure it.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the most common nerve problem affected person's hand