The lower back ache is one of the most common physical conditions experienced by people all over the world. The causes of lower back pain are usually the mechanical issues in the back and injuries to the tissues. These injuries can consist of damage to the intervertebral discs and the spinal joints as well as compress the nerve roots of the back.
A backache can result suddenly from a sprain in the muscles or develop gradually over time with repetitive movements. Muscles sprain when the overstretching and tearing of the muscles impact the ligaments that hold the bones together. Straining of muscles can also lead to this. Muscle strains are caused when the muscle is stretched too far resulting in a tear.
LOWER BACK ACHE IN AYURVEDA
As a science that has been successful for many centuries, Ayurveda has a well-developed strategy to treat lower back pain. According to Ayurveda, the lower back pain is caused due to the excess of the Vata Dosha in the body. Vata represents ether and is one of the five Doshas. The treatment for lower backache is undertaken after categorising it either as acute pain or chronic pain. In acute pain, the pain remedies within a small span of time. Ayurvedic muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat this.
CAUSES OF LOWER BACK PAIN
• Straining of the muscles
• Spraining in the tendons
• Degeneration of the discs in the backbone
• Compression of the discs which lead to a projection of it outwards
• Severe and a traumatic injury to the back that harms the tendons, muscles and the bones
• Infections: Although not very common, lower back pain can also be caused by bacterial or viral infections.
• Inflammatory diseases of the joints like arthritis including the rheumatoid arthritis
• Kidney stones: These can cause sharp pain in the back
• Endometriosis or the building up of the uterine tissues outside the uterus.
• Tumours can also add to the lower back pain although their occurrence as a cause of lower back pain is quite rare.
SYMPTOMS OF LOWER BACK ACHE
The commonly found symptoms of the lower back are:
• Difficulty to sit in the same position for some time
• Stinging, burning pain that moves upwards and downwards the backbone
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Difficulty to do exercises
• Pain traveling to the buttocks, knees, legs, and feet
• Difficulty in waking up after lying down or sitting
LOWER BACK ACHE IN AYURVEDA
As a science that has been successful for many centuries, Ayurveda has a well-developed strategy to treat lower back pain. According to Ayurveda, the lower back pain is caused due to the excess of the Vata Dosha in the body. Vata represents ether and is one of the five Doshas. The treatment for lower backache is undertaken after categorizing it either as acute pain or chronic pain. In acute pain, the pain remedies within a small span of time. Ayurvedic muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat this.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM LOWER BACK PAIN AYURVEDIC CONSULTATION?
After consultation, your Ayurvedic doctor will determine the treatment plan required. For patients with acute lower back pain, massaging the back with muscle relaxants and oils will offer relief. Application of cold or hot water compress can also relieve the pain. Those patients with chronic back pain, the treatment plan is different. Here the condition is treated with medications, lifestyle changes, and physical therapy. Physical therapy consists of regular exercises, yoga and other activities that improve flexibility and fitness of the body. However, if the condition is very severe, injections and surgery might also be required. Surgery is a very successful procedure in curing the ailment completely.
Your doctor will also prescribe massages and therapies like Podikkizhi, Illakaizhi, Kativasthi, Pizhichil, Nhavarakkizhi, and Ksheeravasthi. These therapies are highly effective if done by an experienced Ayurvedic physician. Since Vata Dosha is characterized by a cold nature, you will be asked to keep yourself warm at all the times. You will have to give up going for exercises early in the morning as the cold can aggravate the Vata Dosha. Eating of warm food is recommended and cold food items should be completely avoided.
Yoga has proved itself to be an effective medicine to cure the lower back pain. Padahastasana or standing forward fold pose is a good asana that helps in relieving the persistent pain. This asana allows the vata dosha to move across the body in a balanced state. It also eliminates constipation and unblocks the stool carrying paths in order to reduce the pain. Anuloma Viloma is a Pranayama breathing exercises that help in balancing the Vata Dosha. It is highly recommended for lower back pain and other painful conditions caused by the imbalance of the Vata Dosha. Besides Pranayama also benefits conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Apart from these, oiling your skin is also a good remedy for lower back pain. In the philosophy of Doshas, the skin is the primary organ of the Vata Dosha. Oiling helps the skin healthy and strong, thereby treating lower back pain.
