Herbal and Natural Remedies
Herbs like willow bark, known for its salicin content (a precursor to aspirin), were commonly used for pain relief. Decoctions and poultices were applied to the lower back and leg areas to reduce inflammation and soothe pain.
Early Use of Opioids
Opium, derived from the poppy plant, became more widely used for severe pain during the Renaissance. While effective at reducing pain, the risks of dependency and side effects were poorly understood at the time.
Anatomical studies by Andreas Vesalius and others in the 16th century further improved knowledge of the nervous system, which gradually influenced approaches to treating nerve-related pain.
18th and 19th Century: The Dawn of Modern Pharmacology
Discovery of Active Compounds
The 19th century marked the isolation and synthesis of active medicinal compounds, revolutionizing pain management.
- Morphine was isolated from opium in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner and became the first widely used pure alkaloid for pain relief.
- Salicin from willow bark led to the development of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in 1897 by Felix Hoffmann at Bayer, providing a safer anti-inflammatory and analgesic option.
These advances allowed more targeted treatment for lower back pain and sciatica symptoms by addressing inflammation and nerve irritation.
Physical Medicine and Surgery
The understanding that physical abnormalities such as herniated discs could cause nerve compression emerged late in the 19th century, leading to experimental surgical interventions. Though risky and primitive, surgeries to relieve sciatic nerve pressure were attempted.
Physical therapy and spinal manipulation began to be integrated with drug treatments to manage pain holistically. shutdown123