BACK PAIN

Causes Of Back Pain

Most references to back pain focus on lower back pain in the lumbar spinal region. However, back pain causes are:

Accidents or injuries leaving muscle pain

Osteoarthritis with deteriorating cartilage

Osteoporosis with bone loss / fracture

Fibromyalgia 

Major conditions like cancer

Muscle, ligament and tendon problems are generally at the root of the pain problems along with some weakness in the lower back. Other body parts in the region can also be associated - like bones and small joints.

When no specific cause is apparent, the term NSLBP (nonspecific low back pain) is used. Any number of reasons for this pain can include degenerative disk disease, psychological issues, systemic disease, facet syndrome (similar to pinched nerve symptoms), herniated disk, spondylolisthesis or the forward displacement of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae over the vertebra below it or on the sacrum. Other factors could be spinal stenosis or constriction or spondyloarthropathy (disease affecting spinal joints).

Massage techniques for the back

Back pain is one of the most prevalent forms of pain in the human body in this century.
This can be attributed to a number of factors such as sedentary lifestyles, obesity, long hours spent staring at a computer screen, etc.  A back massage can do wonders for back pain, and is the most preferred method of treatment, except for when the pain is caused due to some serious underlying ,medical condition.

Tips & Warnings

·         Not all types of massage are appropriate for all types of back pain. A rough, pummeling massage can actually be detrimental to people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or other degenerative diseases. Be sure to discuss the techniques to be used by the massage therapist before undergoing any massage.

·         If you have anything more than minor back pain, you should consult your doctor before going to a massage therapist. This is particularly true of older patients, patients with pinched nerves and patients with any kind of chronic illness.

Exercises For Back Pain Relief: Yoga

Many people believe that rest is best for a painful back, but actually, what your back really needs when it’s hurt is exercise. Regular exercise relieves back pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine and helps to prevent future injury. This is a use it or lose it situation: the more you rest, the weaker your back gets, even if it is hurt. Studies have actually shown that you can heal your back pain faster and get back to your regular activities with just two days of rest. So let’s look at some of the best exercises for relieving back pain.

Yoga

A good, regular yoga practice will go far in relieving the stress and tension that sometimes cause mild back pain, and in fact, studies have shown that yoga is the number one most effective exercise for relieving back pain. However, not all yoga poses relieve back pain, and some can in fact aggravate existing pain, so it is important to know which poses will be most helpful in relieving back pain. It is best to do these exercises under the supervision of a certified yoga instructor, and if you encounter any problems with these poses, you should consult an expert. Even just one or two sessions with a yoga instructor can help, as an instructor will help you with your form and posture during poses. Here are some of the best yoga poses for relieving back pain. Each pose should be held from five to ten seconds, depending upon your level of comfort, and should be done on a mat or other soft, supportive surface.

TADASANA

SALABHASANA

PASCHIMOTTANASANA

PAVANMUKTASANA

Water Therapy For Back Pain

Several types of water therapies exist and can be broken down into two very different groups: water exercise therapy and hydrotherapy. Water exercise therapy should be done only by a qualified physical therapist, while hydrotherapy may be done by a therapist but can also be done at home to relieve backaches.

Water exercise therapy has many benefits. The buoyancy of water supports the patient’s weight, allowing a greater range of motion when the person has too much pain to exercise on land. This makes water exercise therapy ideal for everyone who seeks relief from back pain. Additionally, the water temperature should be warm enough to relax muscles, which also helps relieve pain. A physical therapist will have you do in the pool the same exercises you would do on land; they will just be easier to do. Some people transition to land exercises when their back allows it, some continue treatment in the water because they prefer it, and some incorporate both land and water exercises into the therapy.

Hydrotherapy for back pain relieves pain by loosening the muscles and ridding the body of toxins that produce pain and inflammation. Studies have shown that people who soak in a hot tub or warm bath have less stiffness, more flexibility, and tend to use less pain medication. Hydrotherapy consists of douches, sauna or steam baths, wraps, and hot baths with or without herbal additives. It has been used for centuries and is most popular in Europe. Many spas now offer various hydrotherapy treatments. The only risks involved are to people who are temperature sensitive and to those who have diabetes. You must be careful, though, not to get overheated.

AYURVEDIC APPROACH

Backache, one of the most common ailment result in constant pain, at times unbearable and severe. It might lead to difficulty in bending forward and also on sideways. Feeling as if entire area is sore and sensitive to even slight touch. Here are some of it's cure":

If you have a chronic back problem, keep yourself warm and eat hot items.

Include garlic in your daily diet. It is an effective home remedy for back pain.

Boil ten tulsi leaves in one cup of water until the syrup is reduced to half a cup. Add salt to it after cooling. Take this mixture daily. For severe backache, take it twice a day.

A self massage with eucalyptus oil is known to be beneficial. You could also use mustard oil. It is a good remedy for backache.

Guggulu is very helpful. Eat half a teaspoon twice a day after meals with warm water. 

You could take a mixture of five black pepper corns, five cloves and one-gram dry ginger powder in your tea at least twice a day.

Take half a gram of dalchini powder with one-teaspoon honey at least twice a day for best results.

Gently massage the aching area. It will give you relief from back pain.

Ice can reduce the inflammation of back pain and after a few days switch to heat.

Include in diet tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, and at least two lightly cooked vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, carrot, fruits.

While sleeping, sleep on a firm mattress. Avoid sleeping face down.

Do the exercises daily,10-20 times each. Increase the number of times as your strength increases.