1. Matchstick

1. Matchstick

Question: Recently, whenever I sit down, I feel pain from the left side of my buttocks to my tailbone. Previously, when I sat, I felt pressure pain below my left thigh, but the pain only appeared when sitting; when I stood up, everything was normal. The right side of my body was fine, but only the left side caused pain when sitting, sometimes accompanied by headache, sometimes throat pain, sometimes pain in the sole of my left foot. This pain has lasted for two months. I have had hemorrhoids for many years, constipation with white, viscous discharge, and a thick yellow coating on my tongue. How should I treat this?

Answer: You have sciatica. Most cases of sciatica are caused by lumbar disc herniation, but some are not. Clinicians can confirm the diagnosis through the straight leg raise test and the “4” sign test. There are many treatment options, with traditional Chinese medicine being relatively effective.

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