SCIATICA (IRQ-UN-NASA) IN MODERN AND UNANI PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Sciatica is a type of neuropathic pain and commonest variation of low back pain. It is known by a range of terms in the literature, such as lumbo sacral radicular syndrome, radiculopathy, nerve root pain and nerve root entrapment or irritation etc. The intense leg pain may be accompanied by neurological changes of muscle weakness and wasting, sensory changes in the nerve root distribution. There may be intra-spinal, intra-pelvic and extra-pelvic causes compressing the nerve and producing inflammation. In Unani medicine the term “Irq-un-Nasa” is used to describe such pain that initiates from lower back and radiates up 4,5 to knee or ankle joint posterolaterally. Most of the Unani scholars have mentioned it as a subtype of Wajaul Mafasil. The most common cause is the infiltration (nufooz) of abnormal homours in the fluid of hip joint, such as Ghair tabayi Balgham, Safra or Dam or admixture of Balgham and Safra, such infiltration for a prolonged period result into Tahajjur-e-Mafasil and even Irq-un-Nasa. Whenever the nerve becomes weak due to any reason the susceptibility for the accumulation of any morbid matter is increased. There may be sue mizaj damwi/ safravi/ balghami/ saudawi as active cause of Irq-un-Nasa. By now it is understood that this is the disease of nerve, and it is diagnosed and managed accordingly.