Pain in the spine region has disturbed you once in a lifetime, and intolerable discomfort is commonly experienced. The surprising point is that pain is a human creation. Meaning the lifestyle we live, and the food we eat are the major contributors in causing it. Moreover, if you want to relieve your back pain, correct your diet and survival methods.
It may be known to a majority, or if not, our spine comprises five regions. These regions are responsible for initiating activities like walking, sitting, running, jumping, and every other kind of movement in you. The main regions are:
- Cervical Spine
- Thoracic Spine
- Lumbar Spine
- Sacrum
-
Coccyx
Now, you might have easily related, how important our spine is for survival. So, if you experience any discomfort in your spine region and it has been long days not recovering, then it is a sign of an emergency you should not ignore. Do not try to adopt different solutions such as massage, ointments or painkillers as it will make the pain persistent and even worse. Get yourself checked by the experts for back pain treatment, lumbar spondylosis treatment as soon as possible and to overcome the pain naturally, adopt Ayurveda. This pathy incorporates all-natural measures such as correct diet, yoga, and herb-based medicines.
In this blog, we will discover lower back problems and different home remedies for back pain. A full read will let you discover various health complications the lower back can develop and treatment options you can adopt for relief.
Lower Back Pain: An Overview
Back pain can differ from person to person and may have a slow onset or arise suddenly. The frequency of pain can also differ from acute, to moderate to severe. Lower back pain can create difficulties in doing simple things daily, hindering your life greatly. According to the latest research of 2020, low back pain has affected 619 million people globally and is aiming to reach heights by 2050.
Anatomy of the Lower Back
The lower back is also known as the lumbar spine which further consists of 5 bones. These 5 bones are called vertebrae and are known as L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5. Your lower back is made up of:
- Small Bones (Called Vertebrae)
- Muscles
- Ligaments
- Nerves
- and intervertebral disks
Every part plays its role and together they support each body movement. The muscles and ligaments in the lower spine support the bones called vertebrae. The role of intervertebral disks is quite different as they provide cushioning to the spine in case of stress or movement you make. The nerves work as the track to pass signals between the brain and the body.
The reasons for lower back pain include:
- Overuse of spine
- Injury
- Disk Degeneration
- Medical conditions like spondylosis, spine stenosis, etc. or disorders
L4 and L5 Vertebrae: Lower Back Pain Causes
This blog explains lower back pain, so we shall focus more on it. Let's know more about the L4 and L5 which constitute the lower back. The main function of these vertebrae is to support the body weight and help in each movement. After knowing its importance you might have assumed how gentle and crucial it is for your body. Still, humans face numerous issues regarding this and go through severe pain and discomfort. These may involve wear and tear or degenerative issues that occur with time in old age groups. An ignorance to these problems can result in immobility or dysfunction of your body in daily life. The common issues are discussed further.
Disc Bulge
Your disc acts as a cushion between the two bones of a spine. It absorbs the external shocks and prevents any damage to the spine bones. With injury, disc slips from its normal positioning resulting in swelling around the bone. In case of wear and tear over several years, the disc loses its flexibility resulting in the disc bulging out (the disc moves out of two bones).
If you experience back pain and have the symptoms of tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, legs, or feet, you might have developed a disc bulge. It can develop in any part of your spine including the L4 L5 disc bulge. To diagnose it, first, your doctor will examine you physically and if the symptoms and his analysis point towards disc bulge, imaging tests are said to be conducted including X-rays, CT scans, MRI, etc.
Slip Disc (Herniated Disc)
A herniated disc or slip disc is quite similar to a disc bulge. If we compare the two, the key difference is, a herniated disc is more painful. In this situation, the tough outer layer of the cartilage develops a crack which pushes the inner layer outwards. It also irritates the root nerves causing painful inflammation.
X-rays to identify a herniated disc are the same as those for a disc bulge. So, if you experience symptoms like pain, numbness, or weakness in your legs or arms, then you must consult an expert to get diagnosed as soon as possible.
Diagnosing Lower Back Issues
Sometimes, you would have tried to control a little back pain with different ointments or painkillers. But ever thought, what you are doing is right or wrong? Your back pain may disappear for some time but it comes back later. If you delay in diagnosis, it has the chance to develop into serious complications. Therefore, to avoid later regrets, stay attentive to earlier analyses and treatments. A proper and thorough examination of your back pain helps you to understand the root cause of the pain and proceed with the treatment accordingly.
To examine what is causing pain in your spine, several test methods have been developed. These tests are:
-
X-rays
Under these physical tests, you are put on a machine where it captures the picture of your inner spine through radiation.
-
MRI or CT Scans
With this technique, the images are taken through magnets and radio waves. This is an advanced method that covers your bones, muscles, tendons and other soft tissue images.
-
Blood Tests
It is done to determine whether the pain is due to infection or any other condition.
-
Nerve Studies
These tests are conducted to examine the functioning of your nerves and muscle responses. It can easily detect the herniated disc or spinal stenosis-like issues.
A specialist plays a significant role in performing these tests. Preparing a report and considering all the important measures before conducting tests completely depend on them. So, do not take your pain easy or manageable instead undergo the tests after taking suggestions from your health experts.
Conservative Treatment Options
There are multiple pain management options available. When it comes to back pain, many people adopt different treatment alternatives:
-
Physical Therapy:
This therapy is useful for patients injured or restricted from movements due to certain health conditions. The therapist will help support the movement, manage pain, and evaluate and record the patient’s progress. The therapy includes massage, stretching, joint and tissue mobilization which reduce muscle tension and discomfort.
-
Heat/cold therapy
Depending upon the symptoms of back pain, you can use heat or cold therapy. If you experience bruising, inflammation, or swelling, applying ice or cold is a good option to alleviate pain. On the other hand, heat therapy is best for managing muscle spasms.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle modifications
Is back pain your common issue? Well, if yes then this section is written for you. Here are some of the ways related to lifestyle modifications and home remedies that improve the chances of pain management easily.
-
Exercise
Light exercises or yoga asanas are best to strengthen the back muscles and reduce pain. Try not to skip a single day and perform it regularly. Avoid doing any heavy-weight exercise as it may have a negative impact.
-
Maintain Posture
Do not sit in one place for too long. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle and take 2-3 minute breaks per hour from every sitting work. Do not put excess pressure on your back while picking up things.
-
Maintain Healthy Weight
If you are overweight or obese, your back muscles strain and you may experience back pain issues. There are also chances of developing other back pain complications. Hence, try to maintain an ideal weight according to body mass and height.
-
Do not smoke or drink Alcohol
Smoking slows down the blood circulation speed and can hinder the process of healing from injuries. Alcohol reduces the water content in the disc region and can affect your spine.
-
Make some changes in your Diet
You might be thinking what will diet do with my back pain? Then you have limited information regarding it. Diet plays a vital role in restoring lost health, and if you want to control back pain then a healthy diet is mandatory. Now, all you have to do is, include healthy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet and exclude processed, junk, or fast food. Items high in trans fats, and refined sugar also contribute to worsening the inflammation.
-
Manage Stress & Sleep
If you manage stress with meditation and other activities, you will notice a significant reduction in back pain. Stress and anxiety are some of the leading causes of back pain, so try to sleep properly for the required hours. Sleep management is also a key feature in controlling back pain.
-
Ayurvedic Herbs
Some herbs like turmeric, ginger, clove, peppermint, boswellia rosemary, aloe vera, etc. are considered pain-reducing agents as they have such properties. You can add them to your diet after considering an Ayurvedic expert.
Finding the Best Treatment for Lower Back Pain and Spinal Issues
Back pain is the most critical situation that limits physical activities and affects more than 80% of people once in a lifetime. The effective Ayurvedic treatment for back pain considers the root cause to be treated, to achieve long-term results. The treatment methods start with:
- Proper diagnosis by the doctors.
- Tests are recommended if required.
- Recommendation of Ayurvedic medicine after analyzing the reports.
- Diet charts are provided to make the changes in unhealthy eating avoid unhealthy and include healthy eating.
- Yoga, exercises, and other therapies are suggested to speed up the recovery.
If you suffer from back pain then adopting Ayurvedic treatment will be the best choice for you. It will not only treat the pain but help you to overcome other health issues as well. This is so because the body is interlinked and altering your lifestyle with a healthy one will automatically improve the other health problems.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, medical attention is always required in case of back pain. To avoid any further complications you can trust the power of Ayurveda. This pathy aims to balance the tridoshas and bring back the lost balance.
A few remedies, medicines, a balanced diet, meditation, and a healthy lifestyle enable you to achieve overall physical and mental health. To get more knowledge and treatment for back pain, you can contact Dr. Sharda Ayurveda at any branch. Our panel of experienced and well-qualified doctors will guide you with the best possible care. Our vision is to make everyone healthy on this planet and with this aim, we work in 8 cities to help the patients overcome their health issues and those who cannot visit us can contact us online.
