Pushpendra Patel, 45, from Bhopal, was living an active life until the beginning of February this year. However, one morning, he experienced a severe backache. He was not quite sure what caused it: neither did he lift weights, nor did he strain his back due to any strenuous activity.
The backache affected his daily life. He could not stand up from a sitting position as it triggered his pain, and bending had become intolerable.
Patel thought that the trouble would go away on its own. However, even after a week, there was no difference in the intensity of the pain.
“I just wanted to get back to my usual self,” Patel recalls. After a week of debilitating pain, he approached a homeopathic physician in his locality.
Dr Brijendra Vishwakarma, consultant at Vital Touch Homeopathic Clinic in Bhopal, took Patel’s health history and details of his daily activities. He asked for an X-ray, which did not show any signs of worry. After ruling out all other causes, Dr Vishwakarma concluded that the backache stemmed from a muscle strain given the suddenness of the onset.
With all the details he needed, Dr Vishwakarma prescribed some medication and cautioned Patel against any stressful activity that could affect his back.
Patel says, “The medicines brought down the pain significantly. I continued my medication for a few days. My pain got relieved completely. Since then, I have not had a backache.”
What are the causes of a backache?
A research article published in the National Library of Medicine lists the causes in five categories.
- Physical force or strain – this can lead to injury to the spine and other surrounding tissues causing fractures, muscle strain, and disc bulge. In addition, pregnancy can cause backaches due to physical strain on the tissues of the back.
- Age-related – osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis (spinal cord compression due to narrowing of the spinal canal), and osteoporotic fractures.
- Inflammatory – as seen in ankylosing spondylitis (a type of arthritis causing pain and stiffness in the joints)
- Oncologic – space-occupying tumours
- Infections – of spine and other surrounding tissues
Dr Harsh Sharma, consultant at Dr Harsh Sharma Homeopathic Clinic, Chandigarh, says that stress can interfere with the management of backache as it can trigger inflammation.
A research paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, indicates that the degree of stress is directly associated with the worsening of chronic low back pain. Reducing stress and increasing physical activity can lower the pain significantly, the study adds.
Dr Sharma cautions against a bad posture, as it is one of the common reasons for backpain these days.
The homeopathic approach to backache
Dr Vishwakarma says that homeopathic medicines are given according to the onset of the condition. “We have medicines for conditions that occur both suddenly and gradually,” he says. Patel’s case is an example that the medicines acted in accordance with his sudden pain.
Apart from the onset, it is also important for a homeopath to have details like the cause of the backache and what aggravates or ameliorates it. This helps in the selection of a suitable medicine.
According to Dr Vishwakarma, there are apps to help homeopaths zone in on probable treatment options once symptoms are fed into them.
Dr Sharma says, “The medicines can be effective in the long run and can improve the quality of life significantly by preventing the recurrence of the condition.”
Here are some tips that experts recommend to manage and prevent backaches
- Maintaining the right posture is important, whether one is standing or sitting. Make sure the chair supports your back well. If not, use a pillow for support. Sleep on a supportive mattress for the same purpose.
- Do not lift weights abruptly. Use the right techniques while doing so. Before doing any exercise, make sure to stretch all your muscles as it can prevent a sprain.
- Include stress-reducing activities such as yoga and meditation in your daily routine. Tai chi can also be helpful as it involves slow and gentle movements.
- Take regular breaks from work that involves sitting for long periods. Go for a walk or do some other physical activities.
- Eat a balanced diet including fruits and vegetables. Avoid sugary and processed foods that can trigger inflammation. Sleep well for at least eight hours a day.
- To get relief from pain, use a heat pad or ice pack as per your condition.
- Consult a physiotherapist if movements are affected.
