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BACK PAIN / SLIP DISC

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Back pain is a common problem that rises due to bad posture, sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise. This is a condition that can affect people of any age, at any time and for different reasons. The chances of developing back pain are mainly because of previous work conditions and being immobile. Back pain in normally divided into segments depending upon where the pain has affected you like neck pain (cervical), the middle back pain (thoracic), and the lower back pain (lumbar) or coccydynia (tailbone or sacral pain).
According to Ayurveda, Vata imbalance is responsible for back pain. Along with vata, other doshas like Pitta and Kapha may also get vitiated and show symptoms accordingly.

Causes
The human back is a combination of muscles, tendons, ligaments, vertebral discs, nerves and bones, which together support the body and help us to move. Problems or any issues with any of these parts can cause back pain. Other causes are:

• Sudden accident, injury or trauma
• lifting a heavy object improperly
• Bone fractures
• Muscle or ligament strains
• Aging
• Obesity
• Poor physical fitness
• lack of exercise
• Pregnancy
• Kidney/spinal infection
• Disc compressions problems

Symptoms
Back pain may appear suddenly for a short period or may become chronic.Symptoms vary from person to person. To name a few are:

• Pain after a fall or injury or a traumatic event
• Feeling weak or numb in the affected area like buttocks, legs etc.
• Pain that doesn’t get better even after resting
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Sudden weight loss
• Localized swelling, redness and tenderness
• Unable to walk, sit or climb stairs.

Diagnosis
Most of the time, the doctor would understand the severity of the problem after asking about the symptoms of the problem and by carrying out a physical examination. Also some doctors would suggest taking an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan that can give them the required information about the state of the soft tissues within. The condition of back pain is one of the most common problems for which people seek Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda follows holistic and traditional therapeutic approach where you will need to undergo detailed dosha/nadee pareeksha that is a special Ayurvedic diagnosis examination. This procedure examines many important physiological and pathological  functions. By analysis of doshas involved, the treatment can be planned.

Treatment
Basic treatment principle in Ayurveda is to balance Vata by Anuloman, treat the associated dosha, clear the srotas and finally do the Rasayan chikitsa for regaining strength in the back.Many medicines used are Rasna saptak kashaym, gandharvhastadi kashayam,Sahachradi Kashyam, Rasna guggul, Yograj guugul, shallaki, Dashmool etc.

• If stiffness is present, dry treatments like Baluka swed ( Podikizhi), lepam, nadi swed are done initially to balance Kapha.
• Snehan is to be done with Abhyangam which is a full body massage from head to toe done with ayurvedic oils. This helps to relieve pains and aches in the joints by balancing Vata, providing enough lubrication and improves blood circulation.
• Kati Basti is warm herbal oil that is poured or discharged onto the lower back and held inside a circle created using black gram paste or sometimes with whole wheat flour.
• Pizhichil is the process of squeezing of warm medicated oil onto the patient’s body from a piece of cloth. This cloth is occasionally soaked in a vessel containing warm medicated oil. This helps to improve and strengthens the muscle to provide better support.
• ElaKizhi is a combination of various herbs and oil, that is tied in a muslin cloth like small bundles. These bundles are then warmed up and slowly and mildly pounded over the body or concentrated on a specific part accordingly. The treatment of Kizhi helps to overcome pain in a very short span of time.

Authored by Dr. RANI GUPTA