Eighty percent of all US population suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. In spite of this common occurrence, most people are completely unaware of the things they do that contribute to this problem.
Low back problems affect the spine's flexibility, stability, and strength, which can cause pain, discomfort, and stiffness. Low back pain is often triggered by some combination of overuse, muscle strain, or injury to the muscles and ligaments that support the spine. Less commonly, low back pain is caused by illness or spinal deformity.
Back pain can be:
Acute, lasting less than 3 months. Most people gain relief after 4 to 6 weeks of home treatment.
Recurrent, a repeat episode of acute symptoms. Most people have at least one episode of recurrent low back pain.
Chronic, lasting longer than 3 months.
Article from Our Newsletter November - December 2005
Health problem of the Month Back Pain:
Backache is one of the most common ailments prevalent today. As many as 8 out of 10 adults will experience back pain in their lifetime, and most of them will feel it in their lower back. Back pain is either acute, appearing quickly and intensely after an accident or injury and lasting only a short while, or chronic. If back pain persisits for more than 2-3 months, then its' chronic back pain.
Symptoms: Many conditions can cause pain in either the upper or the lower back
- In most cases of backache, the pain usually felt either in the middle of the back or lower down.
- Persistent aching or stiffness anywhere along the spine, particularly during movement.
- Sharp pain in the neck, or upper or lower back
Causes of Back Pain:
The main causes of backache and spondylosis are muscular tension, straining of the joints of the joints, poor posture and incorrect nutrition resulting from the dietetic errors and lack of exercise. Other causes include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long time, improper lifting of weights, high heels and emotional problems, which may cause painful muscle cramping.
Fortunately, most back pain isn't medically serious—in fact, backaches due to strains, sprains, or other contributing factors, such as bad posture or tension and stress, tend to clear up with or without medical attention. The problem is, if you don't take steps to protect your back, then you remain vulnerable to another "back attack.
The following are some causes for backache
a) Injuries :-
1) Compression fracture of the vertebral column.
2) Rupture of intervertebral discs.
3) Injuries to ligaments and muscles of back.
4) Intervertebral joint injuries.
b) Functional backache due to imbalance:-
1) During pregnancy.
2) Pot belly.
3) Diseases of the hip joint.
4) Curvature in the spine due to congenital defect.
c) Backache due to inflammatory conditions:-
1) Arthritis.
2) Inflammation of the muscles.
3) Anchylosing spondylitis.
4) Osteoarthritis.
a) After childbirth.
b) After gynecological operations.
c) Prolapse of the uterus.
d) Pelvic inflammatory diseases.
e) Cancerous lesions of the pelvic organs.
f) Endometriosis.
a) Renal stones.
b) Ureteric stone.
c) Cancer of prostate.
d) Pancreatitis.
e) Peptic ulcer.
f) Inflammations of pelvic organs.
The first step in treating your back pain is to diagnose the cause of it.
Ayurveda recommends an integrated approach to managing backache incorporating herbs, herbal oils, stretching exercises of yoga and diet to correct the underlying dosha deficiency. Most back pain can be effectively treated with these ayurvedic treatments, but a ruptured or slipped disk often requires intensive medical care.
Rub the painful area of the back with Arthcare oil. This is very effective for relieving the pain.
Arthcare penetrates the body tissue faster than any other ointment because of its strong anti-inflammatory action. It removes stiffness and improves mobility of limbs. It brings relief from backaches, muscular strains, rheumatic pains, joint pains etc. Read More about Back Pain Relief Oil..
Massaging soft tissue (skin, fat and muscle) helps ease pain by relaxing you physically and mentally. It also helps your body to release endorphins, which are your body's natural painkillers.
1) To begin, stand with your feet a shoulder width apart, with your hands on your lower back, fingers pointing downward. Bend backward from your waist as far as you can without bending your knees. Hold for about 5 seconds, then repeat. Doing this exercise occasionally throughout the day will you avoid pain from sitting at your desk.
2) For the next exercise, you will need to lie on your stomach, on the floor, and slowly rise up on your elbows, arching your back. Keeping your hips on the floor, relax your lower back and hold the position for 30 seconds. Repeat, and keep in mind that your goal should be to eventually be able to hold the position for 5 full minutes.
Back pain can be helped by many factors, first look after your back, lift objects properly and participate in exercises that strengthen you back, quit smoking (smoking reduces nutrition to the spinal discs), do not stay in bed too long, try to get mobile (unless you have a slipped disc), try hot and cold compresses and with chronic back pain (back pain that last more than 3 months) see a chiropractor.
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