Sciatica

Sciatica is the term given to neuralgia of the great sciatic nerve, the largest in the body, which passes down the back of the thigh. It is characterised by irregular pains about the hip, especially between the great trochanter of the thigh-bone and the bony process on which the body rests when sitting, spreading into neighbouring parts, and running down the back of the thigh to the leg and foot; or the pains may occupy only isolated parts, as the knee-joint, the calf of the leg, or the sole of the foot. It generally differs from the most typical forms of Neuralgia (q.v.) in that the pain, though subject to severe exacerbations, is constantly present. The nerve usually becomes very tender to touch, either at isolated points or throughout; and, in severe and prolonged cases, diminution of sensation in the area of distribution of the nerve, and wasting of the muscles of the limb, are apt to occur. It is sometimes dependent on a gouty condition of the system; but more frequently than other forms of neuralgia can be traced to some definite exposure to cold or wet. It is often a very obstinate disease: the treatment must be conducted on the same lines as that of other forms of neuralgia. Here Acupuncture (q.v.) is specially valuable. In intractable cases nerve-stretching—i.e. cutting down upon the trunk of the nerve, and forcibly pulling upon it—has often been successful where all other measures have failed to enre. The same result may sometimes be obtained by forcibly bending the thigh up towards the abdomen.