Abstract
For women, gynaecological or obstetrical disorders are second to disc prolapse as the most common cause of sciatica. As not many effective conventional treatments can be found for sciatica following uterine cancer, patients may seek assistance from complementary and alternative medicine. Here, we present a case of a woman with severe and chronic sciatica secondary to uterine cancer who experienced temporary relief from acupuncture.
Highlights
Uterine cancer (UC), known as endometrial cancer, arises from the epithelium lining of the uterus [1]
From a neuro-anatomical perspective, sciatica is generally caused by a disc herniation or spinal epidural abscess along the sciatic nerve, which anatomically contains fibres originating in the L4-S2 roots [1]
Some patients turn to acupuncture for which there is some evidence of efficacy in treating painful symptoms associated with sciatica [8]
Summary
Uterine cancer (UC), known as endometrial cancer, arises from the epithelium lining of the uterus [1]. It is not uncommon for sciatica to result from the uterine tumour compressing the lumbosacral plexus, in particular the L4-L5 nerve roots [2]. The first reported case of this was in 1992 when a calcified degenerated myoma, suspected to be an ovarian tumour, induced sciatica by compressing the sciatic nerve in the lumbosacral plexus [3]. Uterine fibroids are another diagnostic consideration [4], and after pregnancy endometriosis is the most common cause of sciatica [2]. We report a case of acupuncture treating sciatica following uterine cancer
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