Sciatica

Is a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower
back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending
on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.
Usually only one side of the lower body is affected.

Causes

Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk or a bone spur on the spine
compresses part of the nerve causing inflammation, pain and numbness in the
affected leg.
Irritation of the roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine
Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
Degenerative disc disease (breakdown of discs, which act as cushions between
the vertebrae)
Spondylolisthesis (a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over
another one)
Piriformis Syndrome
More rarely, the nerve can be compressed by a tumor or damaged by a disease
such as diabetes.
 What are the symptoms?
Pain - vary widely from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating
discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. It may be worse when
you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting can aggravate symptoms.
Tingling, weakness and numbness
Difficulty moving the leg or foot

Statistics
Sciatica is relatively common affecting 15% to 40% people during their lifetime.
This incidence is related to age, rare before 20 y/o, the highest incidence is found in
the fifth decade and then decreases with increasing age. Regular walking also was
found to increase the incidence of sciatica. In addition, occupations with greater
physical labor, such as carpenters and machine operators, have a higher likelihood of
developing sciatica compared to less mobile office workers.
Risk factors for sciatica include:
Age
Obesity
Occupation
Prolonged sitting
Diabetes affects the way your body uses blood sugar, increases your risk of
nerve damage.
Complications
Nerve damage Loss of feeling in the affected leg Weakness in the affected leg
Loss of bowel or bladder function
 Diagnosis
The most applied diagnostic test is the straight leg raise to produce Lasgue's sign,
which is considered positive if pain in the distribution of the sciatic nerve is
reproduced with between 30 and 70 degrees passive flexion of the straight leg. While
this test is positive in about 90% of people with sciatica, approximately 75% of
people with a positive test do not have sciatica.
Imaging tests such as CT or MRI can help with the diagnosis of lumbar disc
herniation.
Treatments and drugs
Medications: Anti-inflammatory, Muscle relaxants.
Steroid injections: Corticosteroids help reduce pain by suppressing
inflammation around the irritated nerve.
Surgery
Physical therapy
Accupuncture
Chiropractic
Physical Therapy
Posture correction - Pay special attention to your core muscles the muscles in
your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment.
Back support Good body mechanics

Dua when feeling pain in the body

Translation

Place your hand at the site of the pain and say:

In the name of Allah. (three times) then supplicate seven times:

I seek refuge with Allah and His omnipotence from the evil of what I feel and that
which I am wary of. (Seven times)
Sources: Muslim No# 2202; Sahih Ibn Hibban No# 2964

Physical Therapy
Exercise is usually better for relieving sciatic pain than bed rest. Patients may rest for
a day or two after their sciatic pain flares up, but after that time period, inactivity will
usually make the pain worse.
Without exercise and movement, the back muscles and spinal structures become
weak and less able to support the back, that can lead to back injury and strain, which
causes additional pain.
Active exercise is important for the health of the spinal discs. Movement helps
exchange nutrients and fluids within the discs to keep them healthy and prevent
pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Exercises
Incorporate strengthening, stretching and aerobic activities -they are central
components of almost any sciatica treatment plan.
Stretching is usually recommended to alleviate sciatic pain (Piriformis and
hamstrings)
Strengthen the spinal column and the supporting muscles, ligaments and tendons,
the abdominal muscles, gluteus and hip muscles. (McKenzie exercises and Dynamic
Lumbar Stabilization)
Piriformis/hamstring stretch
McKenzie
Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization
 Physical Therapy
Ultrasound decrease healing time and relieve stiff and inflexible muscles by
improving the circulation and gently heating the muscles.
Massage deep and firm massage will not only help soothe those cramped muscles
but can actually make the nerves and ligaments both relax.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation In some cases using a very small and
controlled amount of electricity can decrease the intensity and number of
muscle spasms and can help release pain blocking endorphins, much like
aerobics.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet Fight Inflammation Naturally

By Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE

Inflammation is a natural process that helps your body heal and defend
itself from harm.
Unfortunately, it can sometimes run wild and become chronic.
Chronic inflammation can last for a long time weeks, months or years
 and may lead to various health problems.
On the bright side, there are many things you can do to reduce
inflammation and improve your overall health.
This article outlines a detailed plan for an anti-inflammatory diet and
lifestyle.
What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is your bodys way to protect itself from infection, illness or
injury.
As part of the inflammatory response, your body increases production
of white blood cells, immune cells and substances called cytokines that
help fight infection.
Classic signs of acute (short-term) inflammation include redness, pain,
heat and swelling.
On the other hand, chronic (long-term) inflammation is often silent, and
occurs inside the body without any noticeable symptoms.
This type of inflammation can drive conditions like diabetes, heart
disease, fatty liver disease and cancer (1, 2, 3, 4).
Chronic inflammation can also happen when people are obese or under
stress (5, 6).
When doctors look for inflammation, they test for a few markers in the
blood, including C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, TNF alpha
and IL-6.
Bottom Line: Inflammation is a protective mechanism that allows your
body to defend itself against infection, illness or injury. It can also occur
on a chronic basis, which can lead to various diseases.
An Unhealthy Lifestyle Can Drive Inflammation

Certain lifestyle factors can promote inflammation, especially when they

occur on a regular basis.
Consuming high amounts of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup is
particularly bad. It can lead to insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity
(7, 8, 9, 10, 11).
Consuming refined carbs, such as white bread, can also contribute to
inflammation, insulin resistance and obesity (12, 13).
Eating processed and packaged foods that contain trans fats has also
been shown to promote inflammation and damage the endothelial cells
that line your arteries (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20).
Vegetable oils used in many kinds of processed foods are another
culprit. Consuming them regularly results in an imbalance of omega-6 to
omega-3 fatty acids, which leads to inflammation (21, 22, 23).
Excessive intake of alcohol and processed meat can also have
inflammatory effects on the body (24, 25, 26).
An inactive lifestyle that includes a lot of sitting is a major non-dietary
factor that can also promote inflammation (27, 28).
Bottom Line: Eating unhealthy foods, drinking alcohol or sugary
beverages, and getting little physical activity all drive inflammation.
How to Reduce Inflammation With Your Diet

If you want to reduce inflammation, eat less inflammatory foods and

more anti-inflammatory foods.
Base your diet on whole, nutrient-dense foods that contain antioxidants,
and avoid processed products.
Antioxidants work by reducing levels of free radicals. These reactive
molecules are created as a natural part of your metabolism, but can
lead to inflammation when theyre not held in check.
Your anti-inflammatory diet should provide a healthy balance of protein,
carbs and fat at each meal. Make sure you also meet your bodys
needs for vitamins, minerals, fiber and water.
One diet considered anti-inflammatory is the Mediterranean diet, which
has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers such as CRP and IL-6
(29, 30, 31).
A low-carb diet also reduces inflammation, particularly for people who
are obese or have metabolic syndrome (32, 33, 34).
Vegetarian diets have also been shown to help reduce inflammation
(35).
Bottom Line: Choose a balanced diet that cuts out processed products
and boosts your intake of whole, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich
foods.
Foods to Avoid

Some foods are notorious for promoting inflammation.

Consider minimizing or cutting these out completely:
Sugary beverages: Sugar-sweetened drinks and fruit juices.
 Refined carbs: White bread, white pasta, etc.
Desserts: Cookies, candy, cake and ice cream.
Processed meat: Hot dogs, bologna, sausages, etc.
Processed snack foods: Crackers, chips and pretzels.
Certain oils: Processed seed- and vegetable oils like
soybean and corn oil.
Trans fats: Foods with partially hydrogenated in the
ingredients list.
Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption.
Bottom Line: Avoid or minimize sugary foods and beverages,
excessive alcohol and foods high in refined carbs and unhealthy fats.
Foods to Eat

Include plenty of these anti-inflammatory foods:

Vegetables: Broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage,
cauliflower, etc.
Fruit: Especially deeply colored ones liked berries, grapes
and cherries.
High-fat fruits: Avocados and olives.
Healthy fats: Olive oil and coconut oil.
Fatty fish: Salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel and
anchovies.
Nuts: Almonds and other nuts.
Peppers: Bell peppers and chili peppers.
Chocolate: Dark chocolate.
Spices: Such as turmeric, fenugreek and cinnamon.
Tea: Green tea.
Red wine: Up to 5 oz (140 ml) of red wine per day for
women, and 10 oz (280 ml) per day for men.
Bottom Line: Consume a variety of nutrient-dense whole foods that
can reduce inflammation.
Sample Menu For an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Its easier to stick to a diet when you have a plan. Heres a great sample
menu to start from, featuring a day of anti-inflammatory meals:
Breakfast
 3-egg omelet with 1 cup mushrooms and 1 cup kale, cooked
in coconut oil.
1 cup cherries.
Green tea and/or water.
Lunch
Grilled salmon on a bed of mixed greens with olive oil and
vinegar.
1 cup raspberries, topped with plain Greek yogurt and
chopped pecans.
Iced tea, water.
Snack
Bell pepper strips with guacamole.
Dinner
Chicken curry with sweet potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli.
Red wine (510 oz or 140280 g).
Dark chocolate (preferably at least 80% cocoa).
Bottom Line: An anti-inflammatory diet plan should be well-balanced,
incorporating foods with beneficial effects at every meal.
Other Tips to Reduce Inflammation

Once you have your healthy menu organized, make sure you
incorporate these other good habits of an anti-inflammatory lifestyle:
Supplements: Certain supplements can boost the anti-
inflammatory effects of foods, including fish oil and curcumin.
Regular exercise: Exercise can decrease inflammatory
markers and the risk of chronic disease (36, 37).
Sleep: Getting enough sleep is extremely important.
Researchers have found that a poor nights sleep increases
inflammation (38, 39).
Bottom Line: You can boost the benefits of your anti-inflammatory diet
by taking supplements and making sure to get enough exercise and
sleep.
The Rewards of an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle

An anti-inflammatory diet, along with exercise and good sleep, may

provide many benefits:
Improvement to symptoms of arthritis, inflammatory bowel
 syndrome, lupus and other autoimmune disorders.
Decreased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes,
depression, cancer and other diseases.
Reduction in inflammatory markers in the blood.
Better blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Improvement in energy and mood.
Bottom Line: Following an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle may
improve markers of inflammation and reduce your risk of many disease.
Take Home Message
Chronic inflammation is unhealthy and can lead to disease.
In many cases, our health behaviors drive inflammation or make it
worse.
Instead, choose an anti-inflammatory lifestyle for optimal health and
well-being.

Treating Sciatica with a sheep tail

In the traditions of Ibn Majah as was reported from Anas Ibn Malek the prophet (PBUH)
said: The cure of Sciatica is the tail of a desert sheep molten and split into three parts
each is taken on an empty stomach for three following days (Desert sheep: meaning
sheep that graze in areas with grass growing naturally.)
Scientific miracles in the hadith
1-The role of fats in the treatment of this illness:
The prophet (PBUH) mentioned that the treatment of Sciatica, in some cases, is the tail
of a sheep, which is in fact fat.
Modern science says:
Lipid metabolism has three branches, each is related to the type of fat consumed in a
big quantity, leading therefore to the formation of three different chemical compounds
that have opposite effects from each other. These compounds, called the
prostaglandins, resemble the hormones and have different effects on pains and
inflammations in the body.
Prostaglandins type 1 prevent pain and come from the fatty acid called gamma linoleic
acid GLA that belongs to the omega 6 fat group found on a limited basis in some wild
plant.
Therefore medical products containing extracts of those two plants are expensive.
Those products help people that do not have active enzymes to convert linoleic acid to
gamma linoleic acid and then to prostaglandins type 3.
Type two prostaglandins, on the other hand, augment the pains. These are formed from
omega 6 fat group as well, and mainly from linoleic acid found in margarines and cakes,
as well as vegetal oils converted by the food industry to the solid trans fats, so that
cakes, chocolates and sweets remain in the solid state in room temperature.
Type 3 prostaglandins are known for their calming action on the pains and
inflammations. Those are formed from Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA), which is converted to
the two compounds EPA and DHA. Alpha Linoleic Acid is found in the oils of natural
leaves and herbs, and so this is an advantage of the natural vegetal food eaten by
humans and animals like the sheep living in a desert (oasis)
Oils that contain alpha linoleic acid are cheap. Those belong to the omega3 group
known for its large benefits and are liquid in room temperature.
Some of the benefits of fats of omega 3 class are:
- The decrease of cholesterol level
- The protection from heart and brain strokes
 - The protection from arterial hypertension, rheumatoid, eczema and cancers.
Furthermore it was proved that lipids of type sys have a role in decreasing the lipid
amount in the body and so in weight loss.
Contrary to the fats of omega 3 class, saturated animal fats and hydrogenated vegetal
fats which is converted in food industry to fats of type Trans, as well as fats of omega 6
class do not have all the benefits that omega 3 fat class has but have many harms.
This big variation in omega 3 fats benefits can be understood by showing the
physiological effects of the principal fatty acids.
Fatty acids are involved in the formation of the tissues of the brain, the eye, the ear, the
reproductive glands and the other glands tissues.
They are involved in the formation of the membranes surrounding all the cells in the
body and acting to protect the cells.
Fatty acids have a role in repairing the nervous tissues as in the case of a herniated
disk, one of the principal causes of Sciatica.
Science proved that Omega three fat group has important roles in treating the
inflammation of nervous tissues, which is the second main cause of Sciatica. A book
specialised in this field was edited in 1998, written by Joel Krimmer, the professor in
medicine and the chief of the rheumatism division in the medical school in New York.
The book is titled The Medical Fats and Inflammation and includes many details of the
biochemistry of the inflammation treatment by the omega 3 fats.
2- The desert sheep live on natural herbs,rich in the omega 3 fats and from which
scientists could extracted 700 medicines. The beneficial oils the sheep obtains from
these herbs are stored in its tail.
3- The Prophet (PBUH) said that the tail should be melted first,and so the harmful
bacteria and germs are killed by the heat.
4- It should also be taken in three days, not more,to avoid fat oxidation and rancidity.
5-It should be taken on an empty stomach:so that no other lipids compete with the
lipids of the tail for absorption in the digestive tract at the vesicule and pancreas level in
addition to the cellular level where the enzymes acting at the membrane convert those
lipids of the omega 3 group to the beneficial type 3 prostaglandin that reduce the
inflammations and the pain caused by Sciatica
Reference : Summary of the research work presented by Dr Zoheir Bin Rabeh
Gerrami in the conference of the international Organisation for Islamic Miracles,
Dubai, Ramadan 2004.

Benefits of Cold and Heat Treatment for Sciatica

Ice and heat sources are easily available, inexpensive, and usually quite effective
in treating sciatica.
A cold pack or ice application can reduce inflammation and numb sore tissue,
alleviating some of the pain in the sciatic nerve. This should be used initially
when pain is sharp and intense, usually for 2 to 7 days, depending on the
severity of the pain.
Heat dilates blood vessels, increasing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the
area, which assists in healing. Applying heat also stimulates sensory
receptors in the skin, so the brain focuses less on the pain of sciatica. This
is best used after the acute, sharp pain has subsided, typically 3 to 7 days
after the start of the condition.
For some people, alternating between ice and heat is the most effective sciatica
treatment.
Ice Massage for Sciatic Pain
One option for applying cold is to utilize an ice massage. This is most easily
accomplished by freezing water in a paper cup and after it's frozen, cut the top
half of the cup away exposing the ice (like a Popsicle).
The ice cup is then applied directly to the skin, usually in a circular motion over the
course of the painful area. There are 4 stages of cooling, of which the second to
last is a burning sensation, similar to eating ice cream too quickly.
The last stage is numbness, after which time frostbite can occur, so stop when the
burning turns into numbness. This process usually takes between 3 to 6 minutes,
depending on the thickness of the area being treated.
The ice massage can be given by someone else with the patient lying on his or
her stomach or side. The ice should be gently applied to the six-inch area where
the pain is felt, and massaged using a circular motion, using care to avoid the
bony portion of the spine.
The goal is to numb the area of discomfort, at which time gentle, minimal
movements can be made to stretch out the sciatic nerve and relieve the
compression that is causing the pain. When the numbness wears off, the ice can
be re-applied and the procedure repeated. This treatment can be done two or
three times a day.
How to Use Heat and Cold Therapy for Sciatic Pain
Cold Therapy
An ice pack is another approach where the ice is wrapped it in a towel or, a
commercial ice pack can be used. This is usually kept in one spot, such as the low
back, for 15 to 20 minutes per application, and repeated for three times (15
minutes on-off-on-off-on, which takes 1 hour, 15 minutes = 1 session).
For sciatica, the pack is placed over the lower back as that is where the sciatic
nerve is usually pinched. Several sessions can be performed throughout the day.
Heat Therapy
Heat should also be applied carefully to avoid burning. The temperature of the
heating pad, hot water bottle, (or water for a bath), should be warm, not hot, and is
frequently buffered with a towel so the skin does not get too moist.
In addition to the benefits stated above, heat relaxes the muscles, which again,
allows for some pain relief, allowing the patient to stretch out the sciatic nerve and
diminish the compression that is causing the sciatica.
Medications to Treat Sciatic Pain

Sciatica Causes and Treatments Video

The pain associated with sciatica may also be reduced and sometimes relieved
with the use of over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Because some of the pain is coming from inflammation of the sciatic nerve,
treatment using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)) can be very
effective. Aspirin can also help reduce the inflammation, but NSAIDs have fewer
gastrointestinal side effects (such as gastritis or ulcers).
There are many options to consider when choosing NSAIDs. Each is somewhat
different and it is always advisable to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each
with a physician or pharmacist. NSAID options include:
Ibuprofen, such as Advil, Nuprin, Motrin
Naproxen, such as Naprosyn, Aleve
COX-2 inhibitors, such as Celebrex (which requires a prescription)
Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can also be used for relief of sciatic pain.
Because NSAIDs and acetaminophen work differently, the two medications may
be taken at the same time or staggered (i.e., NSAIDs followed by acetaminophen,
etc.).
Other, stronger pain medications are also available through a prescription from a
physician and may be necessary to help alleviate the pain from irritation to the
sciatic nerve.