What is it?
The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the leg. Pressure on it causes leg pain, tingling and numbness. Ayurveda describes this as Gridhrasi. Finding what is pressing on the nerve is central to treatment.
Common symptoms
- Pain shooting down one leg
- Pulling pain in the calf or thigh
- Tingling or burning in the leg
- Leg feels pulled back while walking
Common causes
- Slip disc
- Narrowing of the nerve canal (stenosis)
- A slipped vertebra (listhesis)
- Tight buttock muscles
How we treat it
After examining you, the doctor chooses from these according to your needs.
- Basti therapyAnuvasana (oil) and Niruha (decoction) basti, the main therapy in Ayurveda for Vata disorders.
- Kati BastiWarm medicated oil is pooled over the lower back for a set time.
- AgnikarmaA classical heat-application technique on selected pain points, done by a trained physician.
- ViddhakarmaA classical procedure using fine needles at specific points.
- Snehana and SwedanaMedicated oil massage followed by controlled herbal steam.
- Ayurvedic medicinesSpine- and nerve-nourishing formulations, given only on the doctor's prescription.
Tests that help: MRI; nerve conduction study (NCV) if needed
See a doctor urgently if you have
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Sudden leg weakness or foot drop
- Back pain with fever, weight loss, or after an accident
Everyday care
- Don't sit with a wallet in your back pocket
- Do the stretches your doctor prescribes regularly
- Keep warm and avoid cold drafts
This information is for awareness and does not replace an examination by a doctor.