Management of Spondylosis Induced Sciatica through Panchakarma w.s.r. to Vata Kaphaja Gridhrasi - A Case Study

Introduction: Low backache alone or along with radiating pain in the lower limb is a common entity encountered in daily clinical practice. Lumbar spondylosis is a major cause of lower back pain and also important clinical, social, economic and public health problem affecting the world wide population. Degeneration of the disc that affects the lumbar spine can cause low back pain (referred to as lumbago) or irritation of a spinal nerve to cause pain radiating down the leg (sciatica). So Lumbar spondylosis induced sciatica can be compared with Gridhrasi in Ayurveda on the basis of sign and symptoms described in Ayurvedic classics. Material and Methods: Presented case was 59-year-old male patient having the symptoms of Vata- Kaphaj Gridhrasi in bilateral leg (left>right). Panchakarma treatment such as Valuka Swedana (sand fomentation), Abhyanga (oil massage), Vashpa Swedana (steam bath), Erandamooladi Niruha Basti (herbal medicated enema) and Kati Basti (oil application on Lumbar region) along with oral Ayurvedic medicines were used. Discussion: Assessments were made using VAS (Visual Analogue scale) Pain score, SLR (Straight leg raise) test and Finger to floor test (FTF). At the end of the treatment, there was significant improvement in sign and symptoms of sciatica and overall improvement in quality of life of the patient