Lumbago

Lumbago, Lumbar pain, Backache.

Root Cause of disease

Lumbago can be caused by several factors, but the main reason is the overuse of the lower back and the sudden lifting of a heavy load. Lumbago can be the result of excessive bending or other repetitive motions involving the lower back.

Types of lower back pains:

Sharp and acute
Dull and persistent
Stabbing
Burning
Non specific

Symptoms

Listed below are common symptoms of lumbago. Keep in mind that the primary symptom is lower back pain.

Low back pain may radiate into the buttocks, back of the thigh, and into the groin
Back pain (lumbago) may be aggravated during movement. Pain from bending forward, backward or side-to-side may limit activity
Spinal muscle spasms cause the back to feel stiff and sore
Back pain and muscle spasm can be so acute that posture is affected. The patient may appear to be listing to one side
Lumbago may cause tingling sensations to be felt in the low back, buttocks, and legs

Causes

Sometimes, the cause of lumbago is hard to pinpoint, even after comprehensive medical tests have been done. Lumbago can be caused by several factors, but the main reason is the overuse of the lower back and the sudden lifting of a heavy load
Lumbago can be the result of excessive bending or other repetitive motions involving the lower back. Osteoarthritis and spinal arthritis (spondylosis) can be factors
Other causes may include a slipped or herniated disc, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis or compression of the spinal nerves, scoliosis and malignant or benign spinal tumors

Common Risk Factors

Back pain can affect anyone, including children and teenagers. The following factors may increase your chances of having lower back pain:

Age: Back discomfort becomes increasingly common as you age. You become even more susceptible to back pain as you age over 30 years
Lack of exercise: Risk of lumbago increases if the patient has weak, unused muscles in the back and abdomen due to lack of physical exercise
Obesity: In the case of obese patients, the lower back is put under additional strain along with weakening of back muscles due to limited physical activity. This makes them prone to lower back pain
Diseases: Patients are at a higher risk of lumbago if they are suffering from certain types of arthritis and cancer
Incorrect technique used when lifting: People who employ incorrect lifting techniques such as using their back instead of legs to lift heavy loads are more prone to lumbago
Psychological problems: Back pain also appears to be more common in people who suffer from depression and anxiety
Smoking –Back pain is more common among smokers. Smoking reduces blood flow to the spine, increasing the risk of osteoporosis

Home Remedies to treat Lumbago

Remedy- 1: Dry Ginger

Materials Used: Ginger

Ginger acts on the digestive and respiratory systems and has numerous therapeutic activities including digestive, expectorant (expels phlegm), pain-relieving, nervine (soothes nerves) and carminative (relieves flatulence).

It is a universal medicine and can be considered as a wonder drug as it is useful in the management of diseases caused due to all the three doshas. Ginger reduces vata when taken with rock salt, pitta when taken with mishri (rock sugar) and kapha when taken with honey.

It is useful in the management of pain in the back and other parts of the body caused due to arthritis. It is also helpful in treating constipation, which may be one of the causes of back pain. Ginger aids in balancing the vitiated vata and reducing kapha. It can be used in the form of fresh juice, decoction, powder, infusion, paste and pills

Procedure:

Boil a piece of Ginger in water and drink it by adding a drop of honey to it.
Rub Ginger oil on your skin directly over the area that hurts.
Place fresh Ginger into a warm compress and press it to the painful area of the back for several minutes at time.

Product Link: Shunthi

Remedy- 2: Garlic

Materials Used: Rasonam / Garlic

Rasonam or garlic acts on the digestive, reproductive, nervous, respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems.

It clears ama, rejuvenates nerves and bone tissue, and relieves pain, inflammation and swelling. Therefore, it can be used in the treatment of back pain. Besides, this herb also treats cough, flu, heart disease, hypertension and asthma.

It can be used in the form of juice, infusion, powder and medicated oil.

Procedure

Garlic is naturally anti-inflammatory. You may use garlic to help with your pain relief in the following ways

Consume 2-3 cloves a day on an empty stomach or fry a few cloves in a little coconut or sesame oil.
Fry a few cloves of garlic in coconut or sesame oil. Strain the cloves and store the oil. Rub this oil on your back and leave it for a few hours. Take a warm shower and post this for the best results.

Product Link: Garlic

Remedy-3: Tart Cherry Juice

Materials: Tart cherry juice

Cherries are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Cherry juice can help relieve muscle pain, which may be chronic or exercise-induced. Cherry juice is easily available to buy at grocery stores and commonly contains the tart cherry extract. Try drinking a glass of cherry juice on a daily basis and see if it has positive effects in relieving your back pain.

Product Link: Tart Cherry Juice

Other Remedies

Betel Leaves

The polyphenols in betel leaves help in alleviating pain and the anti-inflammatory compounds help in treating inflammation. The coolant properties and analgesic compounds in betel leaves provide a temporary relief. Wrap warm betel leaves and use it as a compress to soothe a backache or you can add some betel juice to coconut oil and use it for massaging the area of the back where it hurts.

Turmeric

Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, has proven anti-inflammatory effects. You may consume turmeric powder mixed with a glass of warm water or milk to obtain relief from back pain or prepare a paste by mixing turmeric (2 tablespoons), honey (1 tablespoon) and milk (2 tablespoons) and rub this paste on your back for 5 to 8 minutes on a daily basis for pain relief.

Holy Basil

Holy basil reduces inflammation and relaxes tense back muscles to relieve soreness. Take a few basil leaves and boil them in a cup of water until it reduces to half its volume and thickens. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Add some salt for taste and drink this tea twice a day for pain relief.

Ice Pack

Applying an Ice Pack is one of the most natural remedies available for pain relief. This is extremely effective since it helps reduce inflammation. The ice-packs could be the re-usable store-bought ones or it can be home made by placing Ice in a plastic bag or a towel. Avoid applying Ice directly on the skin since it may cause skin burn.

Preventions

By improving your physical condition, leading a healthy lifestyle, and practicing good body posture and mechanics, you may be able to avoid or prevent back discomfort.

You can follow these easy tips to keep you back healthy and strong:

Exercise: Low-impact aerobics, or exercises that don’t strain or jolt your back, can help you build back strength and endurance, as well as improve muscle tone. Swimming and walking are both excellent options to maintain a resilient and strengthened back
Strengthen and stretch your muscles: Exercises that build your core, such as those which focus on abdominal and back muscle strengthening, prepare the muscles around the spine to operate together like a natural corset or support for your back
Maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI): Obesity puts a burden on the spinal muscles. If you’re overweight, losing weight can help you avoid lower back pain
Stop smoking: Smoking raises your chances of developing low back discomfort

Avoid activities that involve sudden twisting or bending or lifting heavy loads manually.

Maintain proper posture: Do not slouch. Try and keep the pelvis in a neutral position
The right chair: For those with a desk job, choose a seat with a swivel base, armrests, and good lower back support, if possible. Maintain a level posture with your knees and hips. Alter the positions at least once every half-hour
Lift with caution: Use your legs and maintain a straight posture when lifting heavy items

See Your Doctor:

Your doctor can help you find solutions to control low back pain and prevent future episodes of lumbago
Treatments include chiropractic care, medications, physical therapy, and multidisciplinary therapies including spinal injections and alternative medicine (acupuncture)

Suggestions:

The modern lifestyle is hectic, stressful, and demanding; both physically and mentally. A sedentary job, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet take a toll on your health, and one of the glaring signs of the same is a pain in the lower back. Pain in the lower back and Sciatica is one of the most common problems that affect the vast majority of people in their lifetime
Ayurveda has some of the most effective solutions for a broad spectrum of health problems, including lower back pain. It can reduce the pain by regular practice and massaging for relief
The best methods are regularly using dry ginger and garlic