Men and women equally complain of back pain that has its origin from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine. Sedentary lifestyle and ageing process mostly causes back pain.
Causes of Back Pain
There is no specific cause for back pain. Back pain may be due to:
Muscle or ligament strain: Back muscles and spinal ligaments strain may be due to repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement.
Bulging or ruptured disks: In your spine, between each individual bone or vertebra is a soft, gel-like cushion called a disk that acts as shock absorbers. Back pain is caused when the soft material inside a disk may bulge out of place or rupture and press on a nerve
Spinal degeneration: Narrowing of the spinal canal is caused due to the wear and tear of the disc. This degeneration may lead to stiffness in the back or may feel pain after walking or standing for a long time.
Arthritis: The lower back is affected by Osteoarthritis. Sometimes there is narrowing of the space around the spinal cord leading to arthritis in the spine. This is often called spinal stenosis.
Skeletal irregularities: If your spine curves in an abnormal way i.e: towards the side, the condition known as Scoliosis, also may lead to back pain.
Osteoporosis: if your bones become porous and brittle, Compression fractures of your spine’s vertebrae can occur.
Fibromyalgia: musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips results in the chronic disorder, Fibromyalgia.
Spondylitis: severe infection or inflammation of the spinal joints resulting in chronic back pain and stiffness leads to Spondylitis.
Symptoms for Back Pain
The most common lower back pain symptoms include:
- Difficulty in walking
- Discomfort after prolonged string standing.
- Dull and aching lower back pain
- Muscle spasms along your lower back, hips and pelvis
- Stinging or burning lower back pain
- Trouble standing up straight
The Ayurvedic Explanation
Imbalance in the dosha causes health issues, according to ayurveda. Disruption in your vata dosha causes back pain. This causes bones and muscles to become weak. Realignment of vata is achieved by Ayurvedic treatment.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Back Pain
The Ayurvedic treatment for back pain is holistic and focused on various health aspects. To treat back pain it recommends the use of diet, lifestyle changes, and the use of herbal remedies. Ayurvedic treatment includes:
Vasthi: Colon problems can be rectified by the ingestion of prescribed oils or decoctions through the anorectal route. Vata imbalance can be corrected by the use of enema. Bones and joints become strong thereby reducing back pain.
Abhyanga: One of the key components of back pain treatment is a massage performed on the body using warm medicated oil that can provide relief from back pain by helping in balancing the doshas.
Agnikarma: thermal microcautery is used in Agnikarma. An instrument called Agnikarma Shalaka is used to heat specific areas to provide quick relief from lower back pain.
According to the severity and nature of the back pain, apart from these therapies like Dhanyamla dhara, Snehapana, Vamana, Podikizhi, Elakizhi, Pizhichil, Vasti, Navarakizhi, Kati vasti, Pichu and more are done according to the severity and nature of the back pain.
Eating Habits and Diet Practices
Improper diet and lifestyle can also develop back pain. Few changes in your eating habits and diet practices can avoid back pain.
- Have meals at regular intervals and set times.
- Have a warm and sufficient amount of food.
- Avoid oily and spicy food.
- Avoid junk food, aerated drinks, and ice creams.
- Avoid eating very late at night.
- Maintain a gap of minimum one hour between dinner and bedtime.
