Back pain management

Common symptoms,

1.Pain on lower back sometimes both sides of buttocks adjuscent to sacral area.Pain with local tenderness also may be felt.

2. Pain becomes severe and doesn’t improve with rest.

3.Persistant pain for few weeks.

4. Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends below the knee
5. Causes weakness, numbness or aggravates on coughing or sneezing

6.Pain increases with lifting, long standing or walking .

Laboratory investigations like Xray,MRI,Blood tests are also done to evaluate the situation.

In case of

1.Unexplained weight loss 2.bladder or bowel problem,3.fever,4.follows fall immediate medical attention is needed.

There are various causes like 1.spinal injury or degenerative changes of vertebrae or discs at multiple levels.2Muscle or ligament strain,3.Bulging or ruptured discs and can press a nerve 4.Osteo arthritis can affect the lower back causing spinal stenosis,5 Osteoporosis leading the bones porus and brittle.

Other factors which cause back pain are ,

Age. Back pain is more common as you get older, starting around age 30 or 40.

Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in your back and abdomen might lead to back pain.

Excess weight. Excess body weight puts extra stress on your back.

Improper lifting. Using your back instead of your legs can lead to back pain.

Psychological conditions. People prone to depression and anxiety appear to have a greater risk of back pain.

smoking. Smokers have increased rates of back pain. This may occur because smoking prompts more coughing, which can lead to herniated disks. Smoking can also decrease blood flow to the spine and increase the risk of osteoporosis ..

Treatments (Duration of  treatment  course 14-21 days )

Consists of internal and external medications of herbal origin.The principle of treatment in Ayurveda  lies on the tridosha concept and the dosha predominance is evaluated considering the symptomatology.

In the situation of disc bulge cum nerve root compression which is quite common, start with procedures to reduce the local inflammation by external application of medicated paste at the site of pain in lower back region.

Choorna pinda sweda  to be done without oil initially and later when the tenderness  gets  reduced oil application could be started.

In certain cases dhanyamla pinda sweda also will be beneficial initially.Next step will be pindasweda using appropriate oils to relieve the pain .

Lepana (external paste)may be continued and lastly after a minimum period of 7 days , virechana (induced purgation)to be done followed with pachakarma procedures like kashaya vasthi and sneha vasthi which will produce a complete cure of the problem.

These procedures are also suggested in degenerative conditions excepting choorna pindasweda .Here predominantly medicated oils are utilised.

In joint related problems particular medicinal formulations are used and necessary laboratory investigations also to be done.It is a fact that once the pressure inside the joint cavity gets relieved the disc naturally gets retracted into the original position and pain gets subsided.

In the case of over weight weight reduction treatment also to be done to reduce the lower back pain.

Commonly used medicines,

Rasnasapthakam kashayam,Rasnapanchakam kashayam,Nirgundi eranda thailam, Sahacharadi kashayam, Yogaraja gulgulu tab, Sahacharadi  thailam , Dhanwantharam  thailam , Karpooradi thailam etc are few among the medicines.

Proper exercises and limited ambulation for a limited period of time is advised. Learn to relax ,regular dieting and quit smoking also will give good results.