Sciatica pain travels along the sciatic nerve, which runs down from the back of the pelvis to the back of the hip, thigh, down the legs and sometimes touches the foot. When it happens, it is intense pain, most of the time, unbearable and the patient must remain in bed for a couple of days. This pain can be caused by an accidental injury, a fall, a nerve injury, or due to inflammation in the nerve and the surrounding area. This can also happen because being overweight creates pressure on the sciatic nerve. Pregnant women and people with diabetes often have this pain along the sciatic nerve. Lifting a lot of weight or falling on a slippery place is the common cause of sciatica pain. Different people explain different experiences.
Some cannot sit for long hours, while others cannot walk properly. Some complain after sitting for a long time when they stand up, their hips lock up and take several seconds to loosen. They take a few slow steps, which are painful, but after that, they are normal. Others feel great discomfort while sleeping, but all sciatica patients suffer terribly from this crucial pain. At the beginning of sciatica pain, one feels as if they have back pain, but when it moves to the hip and thigh, doctors diagnose it as sciatica. Sometimes doctors can’t tell for six to eight months. They speculate that it may be the rupture of the ligaments connected to the two lowest vertebrae. Doctors also say that this may be a slipped disc from the vertebrae. The patient suffers from throbbing or stabbing pain and after a couple of days, the pain subsides, but does not go away. It recurs from time to time and is sometimes so severe that the patient has to stay in the hospital.
Drink 40 oz. (5 cups) of water early in the morning sitting in a chair and without eating for an hour. This helps lubricate and hydrate stiff joints. This also helps to detoxify the body and keep the colon clean.
Swallow half a teaspoon of fresh turmeric paste with water within half an hour of eating breakfast.
Drink a glass of lassi (butter milk) mixed with a quarter teaspoon of hing powder (Asafetida)
· Drink ginger tea twice a day to help soothe the bread. Being an antioxidant, it also helps relieve gases and toxins in the body.
Consume half a teaspoon of Giloye (Garhuchi) powder and half a teaspoon of Amlika powder with water in the morning and before going to bed.
· Use a firm mattress or flat bed. You can sleep on the floor for a week and see if this helps you sleep well and sometimes reduces pain.
Mix one tablespoon of ghee with one teaspoon of ginger powder and gently massage the sore area for 3 minutes before going to bed.
Remember, when we stick to alkaline foods, many physical and mental problems can go away. Regular exercise, especially with weights, 15 minutes four days a week, is important to keep the body energized. Breathing exercises, slow yoga poses, and meditation also help ease pain.