The main reasons causing back pain include muscle strain, disk damage, and some health conditions, such as scoliosis and osteoporosis. Options for treating it include applying a warm or cold compress, acupuncture, and medications.
Back pain can result from injury, activity, and some medical conditions. It can affect people of any age and for different reasons. As people get older, the likelihood of developing lower back pain increasesTrusted Source due to factors such as previous occupation and degenerative disk disease.
Lower back pain may be relating to the bony lumbar spine, disks between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and disks, spinal cord and nerves, lower back muscles, abdominal and pelvic internal organs, or the skin around the lumbar area.
Pain in the upper back may be due to disorders of the aorta, tumors in the chest, or spine inflammation.
Back pain commonly stems from strain, tension, or injury. Frequent causesTrusted Source of back pain are:
Strained muscles or ligaments
a muscle spasm
muscle tension
damaged disks
injuries, fractures, or falls
Strain
Activities that can lead to strains or spasms include:
lifting something improperly
lifting something that is too heavy
making an abrupt, awkward movement
Structural problems
A number of structural problems may also result in back pain:
Ruptured disks: Each vertebra in the spine is cushioned by disks. If the disk ruptures, there will be more pressure on a nerve, resulting in back pain.
Bulging disks: Much in the same way as ruptured disks, a bulging disk can lead to more pressure on a nerve.
Sciatica: A sharp and shooting pain travels through the buttock and down the back of the leg. This may occur when a bulging or herniated disk presses on a nerve or when a muscle pushes specifically on the sciatic nerve.
Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can cause problems with the joints in the hips, lower back, and other areas in the body. In some cases, the space around the spinal cord narrows. Health experts call this spinal stenosis.
Unusual curvature of the spine: If the spine curves in an unusual way, back pain can occur. An example of this is scoliosis, in which the spine curves to the side.
Osteoporosis: Bones, including the vertebrae of the spine, become brittle and porous, making compression fractures more likely.
Kidney problems: Kidney stones or kidney infection can cause back pain.
Symptoms
The main symptom of back pain is an ache anywhere in the back and sometimes all the way down to the buttocks and legs.
Some back issues can cause pain in other parts of the body, depending on the nerves affected.
The pain often goes away without treatment. Doing regular Sun Salutation
( Surya Namaskar) helps in strengthening body muscles. However, if it occurs with any of the following, a person should contact a doctor:
unexplained weight loss
fever
inflammation or swelling on the back
persistent back pain where lying down or resting does not help
pain down the legs
pain that reaches below the knees
a recent injury, blow, or trauma to the back
urinary incontinence
difficulty urinating
fecal incontinence, or loss of control over bowel movements
numbness around the genitals
numbness around the anus
numbness around the butt.
At Dr Jacobs Ayurveda and Panchakarma Hospital, we have our own Oushadhi Pharmacy (A Govt. of Kerala Undertaking) selling Authentic Natural and herbal medicines for different ailments.