LOW BACK PAIN
LOW BACK PAIN
In Ayurveda Low back pain has been discussed as “PRISTHASOOLA”
AYURVEDA CAN HELP YOU
LOW BACK PAIN -MODERN CONCEPT
Low back pain is the most common pain disorder accompanied by burning,stiffness,numbness and tingling with pain radiating down the buttocks and legs.
Who gets it
Low back pain can affect anyone of any age, race, or sex.
LOW BACK PAIN -AYURVEDIC CONCEPT
Avccording to Ayurveda Low back pain is caused by vitiation of vataj dosha and weakness of bones and muscles
CAUSES
The back includes the area from below the neck to the tailbone. Low back pain usually occurs when there is an injury to the ligaments or muscles that hold the vertebrae in the lumbar spine in place. The lumbar spine is the segment of the spine that is located above the pelvis, and the vertebrae are the bones of the spine. Injury can be caused by overuse, or a sudden or awkward movement that strains or sprains the ligaments, muscles, or joints of the lower back. Low back pain caused by strain or sprain is consider acute. Other causes of acute low back pain include a fall that injures the back and violent sneezing or chronic violent coughing.
Low back pain is also a symptom of many diseases and disorders that affect the bones and joints of the spine. This type of low back pain is chronic, and can be caused by arthritis, osteoporosis, obesity, a malignant tumor or cancer in the spinal area, a type of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, a herniated (bulging) disk, or a pinched sciatic nerve. Chronic low back pain can also occur in people whose work involves heavy lifting, bending, and long periods of standing on a daily basis, and during pregnancy. Any type of pain that is out of proportion to an injury or lasts for a long period of time with no apparent cause may be psychiatric in nature.
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SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of low back pain depend upon the cause of the pain. Back pain can be localized, with the discomfort confined to one specific area; diffuse, which means the pain is spread over a larger area and comes from deep in the tissues; radicular, which means it radiates from a nerve and beyond the lower back area, such as down the legs; or referred, meaning the pain is actually caused by an inflammation in a nearby area, such as the kidneys. Low back pain is often accompanied by stiffness and difficulty with normal movement, muscle spasms, and pain that becomes worse with any type of straining. If the spine or nerves around the spine are injured, symptoms can also include loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, or difficulty moving the legs. These type of symptoms require immediate medical treatment. The nerves from the spinal cord are a pathway to all parts of the body, so back pain can cause pain or weakness beyond the back. For example, the sciatic nerve can cause pain from the lower back, through the buttocks, thigh, calf, and foot. This is called sciatica, and is an example of radicular back pain. Low back pain is usually relieved by rest. However, when pain continues even when the patient is lying down, it could be caused by some type of malignancy (cancerous tumor) in the spinal area. Back pain caused by ankylosing spondylitis is worse when sitting or lying down and feels better with movement.
TREATMENT
Treatment in Ayurveda is to bring the vitiated ‘dosha’ back to the state of equilibrium and thereby to the state of health. For treating low back pain, internal as well as external treatments are done. Herbal preparations are administered internally. Daily purgation is recommended to restore the vitiated ‘dosha’ to the state of normalcy.
Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatments like Abhyanga (oil massage), Basti (meditated enema) are very much helpful in relieving backache and correcting abnormalities. Drugs like Yogarajaguggulu, Lakshadiguggulu, Triphala Guggulu, Mahanarayana tailam are useful in this condition.
Yoga and Yogasana
The source of the pain is due most often to pushing oneself beyond physical or emotional capacity. The spine needs stability and, therefore, the mind must first be steady. So, the first step is to learn to relax the mind and focus on the specific areas of back pain. With practice, you can redirect the body’s energy and affect the pain.
Among the Yogasanas ,when there is pain, start with simple back-bends, such as Locust, Cat, and Sunbird. To keep the spine aligned practice Hero Pose.
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SELF CARE TIPS
Self-care tips
In many cases, you can prevent low back pain by maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, following a doctor-approved exercise program, having good posture, and knowing the proper way to lift and move heavy objects.
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