Dr. Deepak Sachdeva

Ow! My aching back! Most of us have stuttered these words at one time or another. Worldwide back pain affects 4 out of 5 people at some point in life. It is one of the top ten high burden diseases and is largely responsible for decreased quality of life and disability in young adults.  

Back Pain Symptoms

Back pain can range from a dull nagging ache to sudden debilitating pain. It can affect anyone at any age, but becomes more common as you grow older. People, who are overweight, lead a sedentary lifestyle, under extreme psychological stress and smokers have been found to be at a higher risk for back pain. Some of the common symptoms that occur with back pain include stiffness, trouble flexing your back, difficulty with range of motion, sharp shooting pain, pain radiating down the legs and numbness in the legs or groin.

Common Causes

Back pain that develops abruptly, often after some activity, is known as acute pain. If your pain lasts for more than three months, it is known as chronic pain. Most causes of acute back pain are related to the muscles and/or ligaments, widely known as strains. Back strains usually result from activities such as heavy lifting, overuse, abrupt movement and poor postures. Chronic pains may be associated with infections, trauma, spinal deformities and problems with the discs, nerves and bones.

Understanding the root cause of your back pain is key to preventing it from worsening or recurring. A better resolution of this problem can be achieved when you learn more and start identifying the factors that trigger your pain.

10 Tips to Beat Back Pain

Most episodes of back pain resolve within a few days on its own. Sadly, for some people it can return and can be the most frustrating and bothersome problem to manage. Here are few tips that you can try to minimise your discomfort and prevent the back pain from becoming a long-term issue.

• Ice the area – Keep ice on the area for the first one or two days. Ice helps slow down inflammation that occurs after an injury. You may switch to heat after two days. Do not place heat or ice directly on your skin and do not keep it for more than 20 minutes at a time.
• Be active  – Continue your normal activities such as walking and mild exercises, but don’t overdo it. Avoid sitting at a place for more than half an hour, get up and do some mild stretching.
• Make your workstation ergonomic – Use chairs that have proper back support. Avoid hunching forward often and keep both your feet firmly planted on the floor.
• Maintain good posture – Avoid stooping or bending over from your waist when lifting heavy objects. Lift with bent knees.
• Wear footwear with low heels – High heels threaten good posture and put more pressure on the lower spine.
• De-stress – Anxiety, stress and depression can worsen back pain. Engage in activities that keep you happy.
• Get enough sleep – Inadequate sleep can aggravate your back pain. Sleep plays a major role in healing your body and mind. Sleep on a mattress that provides good back support. Keep a pillow between your knees if sleeping on your sides. If sleeping on your back, keep a pillow under your knees. These measures help maintain neutral spine position.
• Quit smoking – Smokers are at a greater risk of developing bone problems that worsen back discomfort.
• Exercise – Once your back pain has subsided, perform exercises to strengthen your back muscles.
• Shed some weight – Being overweight can put excess pressure on your spine. Losing weight can help relieve your back pain.

There is often no single solution for back pain. You may need to explore and find out what works best for you, which often involves a process of trial and error.

It is advised that you consult a qualified doctor if your back pain does not subside within 72 hours. Depending on your type of back pain, your doctor may recommend blood tests and/or imaging studies to identify the root cause of your pain. Depending on your specific condition, treatment options can include oral medications, injections or surgery. You may also choose complementary therapies such as exercises, massage, yoga, biofeedback, acupuncture, physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments that may offer some relief.

Back pain refers to a severe pain in the back due to a strain in the muscle and the associated ligaments of the spine. Back pain is a fairly common condition and almost everyone has experienced it at least once in their lifetime. The pain can be either acute (pain in sudden bursts) or chronic (lasting for more than a month). Back pain generally tends to subside if one takes appropriate measures. 

You might experience the following symptoms along with back pain:

1. Severe pain around the muscles which might stretch down to your feet
2. Back pain will significantly limit the flexibility of your back
3. If there are recurrent instances of high fever and severe gall bladder disorders along with the pain, a consultation with your doctor is highly recommended.

Back pain might occur due to the following reasons:

1. Back pain might occur as a result of osteoarthritis (a disorder that is characterized by the breaking and wearing down of the flexible tissues at the end of the bones) and osteoporosis (a disorder marked by bones that are weak and brittle).
2. It might occur as a result of a fatal accident or an injury.
3. If you are a chain smoker and have a history of excessive alcohol or drug abuse, you are more likely to experience back pain.
4. Back pain might also occur as a result of ageing, excessive weight gain, lack of regular exercising, cancer and instances of severe depression.

Ayurveda can be very useful for eradicating back pain. According to Ayurveda, back pain is caused due to the heightening of the ‘vata’ owing to an unhealthy diet, anxiety, and suppression of muscles, collectively called ‘dosha’. 

The Ayurvedic remedies for back pain are as follows:

1. A regular intake of 30 ml of Aloe Vera juice in the morning might heal symptoms of back pain
2. A regular intake of a mixture of 5g Triphala churnam mixed with water before retiring for the night might help to ease the general discomfort associated with back pain.
3. Consume a medicinal preparation of 100ml of Black Gram (Urad Dal) daily for a week in order to get rid of the pain.
4. You can also perform Paschimottanasana (an exercise where you have to touch the toes and repeat the same for a few times) and Vayu Mudra (an exercise where you have to move the index finger on the thumb base and the thumb finger in closed proximity to the index finger while the other fingers remain in a perpendicular position) to get rid of the back pain.
5. Cut down on your consumption of pungent spices. This is because these pungent spices tend to have a drying effect on the body, that in turn, might lead to severe back pain, especially in the lower back along with constipation. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an ayurveda.