Introduction Symptoms Do's Investigations Homoeopathic treatment

Causes See a doctor if Don'ts Prevention

Backaches most commonly affect the Cervical (neck) region and the Lumbar (lower back) of the spine since these regions possess the greatest freedom of movements and hence are frequently subjected to injuries.

With the advent of motor vehicles and changing work habits, most of the day-to-day activities are done sitting down as compared to walking or standing. This affects the human physiology negatively as the upright posture is designed for walking. People who walk a lot or do physical labor develop good muscle tone in their back and legs. People who sit most of the day lose that muscle tone and their back is the first place to show it.

• Postural- due to odd postures for a prolonged period
• Injury
• Muscle spasm
• Exertion
• Ruptured or herniated intervertebral disc
• Degeneration of the intervertebral disc
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Vertebral fractures
• Some diseases like Potts spine
• Change in the curvature of the spine at different levels (like scoliosis or kyphosis)
• Small fractures to the spine from osteoporosis
• Tumors of the spinal cord (rare)
• Pregnancy

• Bladder infection
• Kidney stone
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cancer
• Ovarian cysts
• Testicular torsion (twisted testicle)

• Lifts heavy weights regularly, bends a lot, or remains in abnormal postures for long
• Is obese
• Does not exercise
• Smokes
• Has arthritis
• Is depressed or stressed
• Has a low pain threshold

• Local pain in a particular area of the back or in the entire back
• The pain may be dull aching, burning, sharp radiating, etc
• Pain may be continuous or intermittent
• Pain may remain localized or radiate to other areas of the back or to the arms, legs
• Stiffness
• Painful restriction of movements
• In systemic diseases, there can be permanent curvature deformities
• Tingling or numbness in the limbs
• Pain may be worse after sitting or standing for extended periods
• Pain may be worse on initiating movements

• There is severe or persistent pain.
• There is numbness, tingling or loss of control in the arms or legs- this may indicate problem of the spinal cord
• The pain in the back extends downwards along the back of the leg- it is indicative of sciatica
• The pain increases on coughing or bending forward at the waist- this may be a sign of an herniated disk
• The pain is accompanied by fever- it may be due to a bacterial infection.
• There is dull pain in one area of the spine when lying or getting out of bed, especially in a person over 50 years of age- it is indicative of osteoporosis.

1. Go to bed immediately on a firm mattress and stay there for at least 24 hours or till the pain ceases, getting up only to go to the toilet. Lie flat on the back on a firm mattress with a foam pad (about the thickness of 2 paperbacks) under the head. If lying on the back is uncomfortable because it is not possible for the legs to rest flat, lie on the side with the knees pulled up and a foam pad in the hollow of the waist.
2. Apply heat locally, a hot water bag held against the small of the back can help relax knotted muscles.

1. In case of pregnant women, analgesics should be avoided. Instead use a heating pad to relieve pain.

• Blood and urine tests help rule out an infection or any systemic disorders
• X-rays help detect fractires or other skeletal defects
• CT scan or MRI may be necessary to analyze soft tissue damage
• An electromyogram (EMG) may be done to determine potential abnormalities
• affecting nerve and muscle stimuli

1. Always sleep on a firm mattress. Make sure the mattress not uneven or else it may worsen the backache.
2. Improve your posture. Stand and sit straight. First, analyze your posture by standing with your heels against a wall. Your calves, buttocks, shoulders and back of the head should touch the wall and you should be able to slip your hand behind the small of your back. Then step forward and stand normally, if your posture changes, correct it right away.
3. If you stand for long periods at work, wear low-heeled or flat shoes with a good arch support and get a box or step about 6 inches high to rest one foot on from time to time.
4. Use a chair which supports the small of the back or use a back support cushion. Special back chairs which have a seat that tilts forwards obliges one to sit up straight, allowing the back to assume its natural inward curve at the waist.
5. Keep a cushion at the small of the back when sitting in a chair or while driving.
6. Keep your back straight when working at a bench, table, ironing board etc.
7. While sitting, your feet should rest flat on ground and your forearms should rest on the desk or work surface with the elbows almost at right angle.
8. If a lot of time is spent sitting down, have a stretch and walk around every half hour or so.
9. Shoulder bags, especially if worn on the same shoulder all the time, do untold damage to the backs. Whenever possible, split the loads - carry a bag in each hand rather than one heavy bag in one hand. Make a habit of carrying things in alternate hands.
10. Regular exercises for back muscles keep spasms at bay and help strengthen the back. Try the following exercises twice a day. Do not try two until one can be done, or three until two can be done. Do the exercises very gently to start with.
    • Lie face down on the floor with your hands behind your back. Hollow your back by raising head and shoulders off the floor. Count three. Lower the head and shoulders. Relax while you count ten. Repeat this for about 10 times.
    • Lie on the floor on your back with the knees bent. Tighten the muscles around the anus and raise your hips 3 cm (an inch or so) off the floor, then relax. Repeat 10 times.
    • Lie on the floor on your back with the knees bent. Breathe in and arch your back as strongly as possible, then breathe out and flatten your back against the floor. Repeat 10 times.
    • Kneel on all fours, supporting yourself on straight arms, with hands flat. Arch your back upwards as far as possible and tuck your chin as close to your chest as you can. Now let the back sink slowly down, raise your face to the ceiling. Now arch your back up again, and so on. Repeat 10 times, holding each posture for a few seconds. Try to breathe out as you arch up and breathe in as you sink down.
11. Swimming is also beneficial.
12. Massage the back once a week.
13. Relaxation techniques, yoga and meditation help.
14. A diet rich in calcium and multivitamins is recommended.
15. Lose excess weight.
16. Avoid wrong postural habits and lifting heavy objects. To lift objects from floor, kneel or bend at the knees and not at the waist; keep the back straight as you grasp the object and stand upright again. Let your legs do the lifting and not your back.
17. Do not try to lift and twist at the same time.
18. Avoid sudden jerky movements and overactivity.
19. Do not neglect any backache which is severely immobilizing, accompanied with fever, headache, vomiting, impaired consciousness and loss of sensation or movement. Consult a physician immediately for it may indicate a grave problem.

1. Try a pregnancy girdle or elastic sling to support the abdomen.
2. Wear shoes or shoe inserts designed for pregnant women and avoid high heels.
3. Do not stand for long periods and don't stretch to reach high places.
4. Sit straight without slouching, and whenever possible, sit with the legs elevated.
5. Sleep on a firm mattress.
6. Be careful when lifting heavy loads, especially children. Bend at the knees, keep the back as straight as possible, hold the object or child close to the body, and raise yourself slowly.
7. Massage the back: Sit backward on a straight chair. Lean over the back with your head resting on your crossed arms. Have the massager use long strokes, working upward and outward from the lower back, avoiding pressure on the spine.

Homoeopathy considers backache as a constitutional problem and treats it accordingly. This is especially required in cases where the backache is worsened by prolonged tension and stress. In cases where abnormal postures, injury, exertion or muscle spasm has caused the backache, Homeopathy has wonderful results to offer to the patient. Also in cases of problems with the intervertebral disc, Homeopathy can offer significant relief to the patient and the treatment can also be combined with Conventional treatment. Backaches during pregnancy also respond very well to homeopathic remedies. In cases where pathological changes in the back are advanced, Homeopathy can play a palliative role and can relieve the pains associated with the disease. All in all, most cases of backache respond very well to Homeopathic treatment and Homeopathy is definitely indicated for these. The exact scope of the treatment however can e determined only after detailed evaluation of every individual case.