Backache/ Homeopathic Treatment of backache.

Pain in the back anywhere below the ribs and up to the hips is called low back pain. It is a condition that affects over 90% of the population at one time or the other. Next to common cold, it remains the most common reason why people seek medical help.

Many people who experience low back pain do not meet up with a doctor since it usually resolves on its own. They may suffer from any dull aches to sharp pains or even numbness. The pain characteristically lingers on for a day or two before it gradually subsides. In many, the pains keep recurring in varying intensities. Studies have shown that back pain is the single most reason cited by employees for taking a maximum number of 'sick leaves'. Stresses and strains of daily living and overuse and misuse of the muscles of the back are the commonest causes of a backache.

Why is backpain so common?

The curvature of the normal spine is such that, the bony column is weakest at two points. The cervical spine (the nape of the neck) and the dorsal spine are the weakest points. The lower back bears at least one half of the body weight. Hence, these points bear the brunt of repeated stresses and strains.

Sometimes suddenly one simple movement or incident might trigger your pains. These could be:-

• Trauma: acute or chronic - unusual lifting, sudden wrenches, fall etc.

• Psychic factors like depression can cause lowered (poor) muscle tone and cause a backache

• Any acute illnesses - can cause poor muscle tone

• Fatigue

• Pregnancy

• Obesity - causes increased lordosis

• General poor health

• Localized, focal infections

• Faulty structure of feet.

What makes a backache worse is that once the pain starts, in order to avoid stressing the painful parts, we tend to perform actions ( walk, stand, lift etc.) with the use of other muscles which are not used to moving in that pattern. This further increases the stress on the muscles

Causes of backache

Apart from the above-mentioned triggers, backache can be caused by a number of other conditions.

• Osteoarthritis (OA): with increasing age, the joints of the backbones undergo degeneration. OA of the joints that link one vertebra to its neighbouring ones causes back pains.

• Vitamin D3 and Calcium deficiency: Routine blood test for Vitamin D3 and Calcium, bone density study will help evaluate the health of bones. Osteoporosis is a common condition leading to back pain.

• Injuries and fractures of the vertebrae (backbone): conditions that cause nerve, bone and tissue injury can cause back pain ' vehicular accidents, fall from a bike, fall on the back compressing the structures in the back.

• Compression of the spinal cord itself (Spinal stenosis): the spinal cord travels through a narrow, hollow shaped bony canal called the 'spinal canal'. With aging, the lumen of this canal tends to become narrow, compressing the contents within it. Back pain is a common symptom of spinal stenosis.

• Herniated Discs (disc prolapse): any heavy strain or increased pressure in the back can displace the round, resilient discs which act as shock absorbers for the backbones. They cushion every impact on the back such as when jogging, weight lifting, horse-riding etc. injuries, normal wear and tear, and diseases that affect the backbones can cause minor tears on the disc surfaces as well as make them bulge out from their places. Displaced discs can press on surrounding nerves and cause pain, tingling & numbness in the legs.

• Deformities: often the backbone curvature is damaged secondary to other diseases. The alignment which is usually straight tends to deviate either to the sides (scoliosis) or appear bent forwards (kyphosis). Long-term mal-alignment of the vertebral column can cause tremendous stress and strain on the supportive muscles that surround it. This usually gives rise to a backache.

• Occupational: many occupations can take a toll on your back. If your work requires long hours of standing, lifting of heavy weights or sitting in an uncomfortable position, your back will possibly suffer.

• Athletes are very prone to low back aches.

Back pain might also originate from the nerves, spine, and muscles of the back. Conditions affecting structures present in the abdomen and pelvis - (kidneys, ovaries, intestines, prostate etc.) can cause a backache. In a general backache is never really serious. It is self-resolving and lasts only for some days.

Some simple measures can help keep back pain at bay!

• Learn to bend and lift objects properly.

• Avoid standing for long periods at a stretch. If you must stand for a long time, make sure your ears, shoulders, hips, and knees are in the same straight line.

• If you have long hours of sitting, like a long car drive, try taking stops every one hour and walk around a bit.

• When sitting for long, make sure your chair has a high back and supports your back (especially the region between the ribs and hip-bones) curvature properly. You may need the help of a pillow for the same.

• Your chair should not be too high or too low either. Again, when sitting on a chair, make sure that both your feet touch ground completely. Your knees should extend beyond the seating provided and they should also be higher than your hips.

• Don't slouch when sitting.

• While sleeping, make sure your bed provides adequate support to your back. Very soft beds can strain your back muscles. If you are prone to back pains, then sleep on your back with your legs straight. Bending the legs at the hips increases stress on your back muscles.

• Exercise daily. A good exercise will improve your posture.

• A complete workout session should include walking/swimming aerobic activity + riding a stationary bike.

• Never skip your warm-up exercises, even if you do regular workouts.

• Manage your weight. Try maintaining your body weight within the range optimal for your age, sex, and daily routines.

• Have foods rich in calcium, Vitamin D, phosphorus, and proteins. They both help in building and repairing bones and muscles.

• Wear low-heeled shoes. Avoid wearing stilettos for long periods.

• Quit smoking. Smoking contributes to osteoporosis. It hardens the arteries supplying blood to our bones and reduces the blood supply to other vital structures that form your backbone.

• Relax. Avoid stress from getting at you. Stress causes the supportive muscles of the back to go into an abnormally contracted state. Try yoga, tai chi, and massages which are known to help.

Homeopathy for Low Backache

Homeopathic medicines offer excellent relief from low back pains. Homeopathic medications can relieve the spasms of the back muscles and provide effective pain relief without any side effects. Homeopathy is strongly recommended.

Symptoms are the language in which the disturbing forces, which we know as diseases, speak to us. Homeopathic doctor takes into account these symptoms of backache and administers a remedy which will remove the symptoms and thereby relieving your agonizing pain.

The action of homeopathic remedies is essentially gentle, unlike conventional medicines which possess many side-effects and are palliative.

The working of a homeopathic remedy is like the working of nature itself, it relieves the patient from the sufferings and helps the return to health in treatment for back pain.

Homeopathic treatment for back pain induces the healing force to bring about a healthy and natural long lasting relief to the individual.