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Low Back Pain & Ayurveda

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LOW BACK PAIN & AYURVEDA

Low back pain is one of the most common pain disorders today .It is a chronic condition characterized by a persistent dull or sharp pain per the lower back. It may be also associated with burning, stiffness, numbness or tingling with the pain shooting down the buttocks and the legs.

What are common causes of low back pain?

 

  • Nerve root syndromes are those that produce symptoms of nerve impingement (a nerve is touched), often due to a herniation (or bulging) of the disc between the lower back bones. Sciatica is an example of nerve root impingement. Impingement pain tends to be sharp, in one spot, and associated with numbness in the area of the leg that the affected nerve supplies.

     

    • Herniated discs are produced as the spinal discs degenerate or grow thinner. The jellylike central portion of the disc bulges out of the central cavity and pushes against a nerve root. Intervertebral discs begin to degenerate by the third decade of life. Herniated discs are found in a third of adults older than 20. Only 3% of these, however, produce symptoms of nerve impingement.
    • Spinal stenosis occurs as intervertebral discs lose moisture and volume with age, which decreases the disc spaces. Even minor trauma under these circumstances can cause inflammation and nerve root impingement, which can produce classic sciatica without disc rupture.
    • Spinal degeneration is caused by alterations in the disc that progress to degeneration. This coupled with disease in joints of the low back, causes spinal canal narrowing. These changes in the disc and the joints produce symptoms and can be seen on an x-ray. A person with spinal degeneration may have morning stiffness or pain while standing for a long time or walking even short distances.
    • Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency. Disc material expands into the spinal canal, which compresses the nerves. A person would experience pain, possible loss of sensation, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. This could include inability to control urination causing incontinence, or the inability to begin urination.

 

  • Musculoskeletal pain syndromes that produce low back pain include myofascial pain syndromes and fibromyalgia.

     

    • Myofascial pain is characterized by pain and tenderness over localized areas (trigger points), loss of range of motion in the involved muscle groups, and pain radiating in a characteristic distribution but restricted to a peripheral nerve. Relief of pain is often reported when the involved muscle group is stretched.
    • Fibromyalgia results in pain and tenderness on 11 of 18 trigger points when touched, one of which is the low back area, as classified by the American College of Rheumatology. Generalized stiffness, fatigue, and muscle ache are reported.

 

  • Other skeletal causes of low back pain include osteomyelitis or sacroiliitis (infections of the bones of the spine). This pain is usually worse at night and is worse when sitting or standing for a long time.
  • Tumors, possibly cancerous, can be a source of skeletal pain.

Back Pain Symptoms

 

Pain in the lumbosacral area (lower part of the back) is the primary symptom of low back pain.

 

  • The pain may radiate down the front, side, or back of your leg, or it may be confined to the low back.
  • The pain may become worse with activity.
  • Occasionally, the pain may be worse at night or with prolonged sitting such as on a long car trip.
  • You may have numbness or weakness in the part of the leg that receives its nerve supply from a compressed nerve.

     

    • An example of this would be an inability to plantar flex the foot. This means you would be unable to stand on your toes or bring your foot downward. This occurs when the first sacral nerve is compressed or injured.
    • Another example would be the inability to raise your big toe upward. This results when the fifth lumbar nerve is compromised.

Treatment

Conservative treatment is the most likely course of action for most patients. Treatment options include rest, Traction, Short wave diathermy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, weight control, steroid injections in step by step order.

If a patients does not get relief after 8 to 12 weeks of conservative therapy surgical intervention is considered.

Ayurvedic Perspective

Ayurveda holds that low back pain is a result of vitiation of one of the three principal 'doshas'. 'Kateegraham'/'Prishtasoola' or low back pain is an indication of Vata aggravation and bone and muscle weakness.

Ayurvedic Treatment

Treatment in Ayurveda is to bring the vitiated 'dosha' back to the state of equilibrium and thereby to the state of health.

ayurveda management Comprises of three approaches, Elimination (Shodhanam), of the accumulated toxic products of digestion, metabolism and the disease process, Pacification (Shamanam) and correction of the entities responsible for altered functioning and Rejuvenation (Rasayanam) of the bodily tissue to regain and maintain natural strength and vitality.

For treating low back pain, internal as well as external treatments are done. Ayurvedic medicine offers conservative treatment as oral & external medication. This herbal medicine can help you reverse the disease-process.

Ayurvedic Treatment usually involves a series of Panchakarma therapies like ABHYANGAM, SWEDAM, NASYAM, ELAKIZHI, NAVARAKIZHI, KATI VASTHI, KASHAYA VASTHI & ANUVASANA VASTHI etc. for treating low back pain.

Abhyangam & Swedam

A whole body massage with specific herbal oils to nourish and revitalize the body tissues (Dhatus) and to allow the toxins to be removed from the body. Abhyanga has much deeper and far more reaching effects than an ordinary massage, which uses mineral oils and lotions. This massage is performed symmetrically by two therapists for one hour and is usually followed by medicated steam bath (Sweda). It is one of the most rejuvenating treatments of Ayurveda.

Patra Pinda Sweda

(Elakkizhi)

A highly rejuvenating treatment, in which fresh plants are fried with several other herbal ingredients and tied into boluses, dipped in warm medicated oil and simultaneously massaged all over the body for one hour. It is applied after Abhyanga.

Sarvangadhara (Pizhichil) Kayaseka

Medicated oil/milk is poured onto the body in continuous streams while being gently massaged, for one hour. It is extremely soothing and relaxing. It acts as a free radical scavenger, toning, strengthening and deeply rejuvenating the whole body. It is applied after Abhyanga.

Sashtika Sali Pinda Sweda

(Navarakizhi)

 

Ahighly effective rejuvenation technique using a special type of rice that is cooked, tied into boluses and dipped into a herbal decoction and warm milk, then skillfully massaged simultaneously all over the body for one hour after the Abhyanga.

Kati Vasti

It is done keeping a certain amount of medicated luke warm oil on the specific area of back for a prescribed period of time.

Basti (Medicated Enema)

Introducing liquids like medicated oils, herbal concoctions and milk per perineum (through the anus).Cleanses the accumulated toxins from all over the body.

These are the usual therapies which are practiced for treating low back cases but if any other panchakarma therapy has to be done that is decided as per patient condition and need.

 

In four to six weeks, the majority of patients find their symptoms are relieved without surgery! Be optimistic about your treatment plan and remember that less than 5% of back problems require surgery!

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Namaskaar dr.Chandra.

 

I was wondering if Ayurveda has got some remedies for Ankylosing Spondylitis. As in alopathy they say that it doesnot offer any cure but just the treatment and that too only Pain Killer Tablets like Nimulid, Brufen or diclowin etc.

I am desperatly looking for an anawer....if you have some.

 

regards !!

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dear sir

 

excellent treatment for ankylosing spondylitis is available in Ayurveda. but it is a speciality treatment.

 

only in Ayurveda the reason or the concept of the disease origin or pathophysiology for AS & (even) rheumatoid arthritis has been explained. thus Ayurveda is successful in dealing with these issues.

 

early stage treatment provides the best possible recovery and even complete cure.

 

we r doing extensive research work on AS & RA and are successful in treating these cases of various stages.

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Hi Dr. Chandra,

My wife is suffering from Sacroilitis and Cervical Spondylisis. It has been two years i have tried allopathy and homeopathy but both resulted in only temporary gains. Can you please suggest some good place where I can go for Ayurvedic treatment for her (as mentioned by you in the thread chain ahead)?

Current pains:-

1) prolonged walking standing causes pain in sciatic nerve and sacroalitic joint resulting in pain in entire right leg

2) working on computer for an hour or two results in strong pain in neck and shoulder. As a result the vein starting from third finger on right hand starts paining till the neck joint.

MRI revealed minor cervical spondilysis in c5 and c6

 

Please suggest

 

Regards

Birju

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Hi Dr Chandra,

My wife is suffering from Sacroiliitis since last two years and Cervical spondylisis since last one year. I have tried both allopathic and homeopathic treatments. both of them giving minimal temporary solution. My Wife is experiencing almost all the symptoms mentioned for Nervroot syndrome.

can you please suggest locations where i can get ayurvedic treatment for my wife getting a permanent solution to the disease?

 

Please suggest

 

Thanks

Birju

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