| Lumbago is a seldom used term to mean mild to | | | | - Loss of bladder or bowel control |
| severe low back pain. The pain can be acute or | | | | - Leg numbness |
| chronic and affects young and old people. | | | | - Loss of leg strength. |
| Lumbago is a common symptom of musculoskeletal | | | | Treatment |
| disorders or of disorders involving the lumbar | | | | Conservative treatment is the most likely course of |
| vertebrae and related soft tissue structures such as | | | | action for most patients. Treatment options include |
| muscles, ligaments, nerves and intervertebral discs. It | | | | rest, Traction, Short wave diathermy, non-steroidal |
| can be either acute, sub-acute or chronic in its clinical | | | | anti-inflammatory medications, weight control, and |
| presentation. | | | | steroid injections in step by step order. |
| Years ago doctors associated lumbago with | | | | If a patients does not get relief after 8 to 12 weeks |
| rheumatism seemingly brought on by exposure to | | | | of conservative therapy surgical intervention is |
| cold damp surroundings. Poor posture, sudden | | | | considered. |
| movement, coughing and sneezing were also thought | | | | As per Ayurveda Lumbago is called as Kateeshoola, |
| to inspire episodes of lumbago. Not to discredit the | | | | with “Kati” referring to the lower back |
| reputations of yesterday's doctors, but medicine has | | | | and “Shula” referring to pain and is |
| since greatly advanced and the term lumbago has | | | | classified under Kateegraham or Prustashoola. Vitiated |
| been replaced with accurate diagnostic terms. | | | | ‘Vata’ is considered to be the principle |
| Causes | | | | dosha involved and the treatment in Ayurveda is |
| There are many things that cause low back pain or | | | | aimed at to bring the vitiated 'dosha' back to the |
| lumbago. Listed below are some of the more | | | | state of equilibrium. |
| common conditions | | | | Treatment comprises of three approaches, Elimination |
| - Herniated Disc (sometimes called a slipped disc) | | | | (Sodhanam) of the accumulated toxic products of |
| - Osteoarthritis or Spondylosis (spinal arthritis) | | | | digestion, metabolism and the disease process, |
| - Osteoporosis (brittle bone disease, spinal fracture) | | | | Pacification (Samanam) and correction of the entities |
| - Rheumatoid Arthritis (progressive, sometimes | | | | responsible for altered functioning and Rasayanam |
| destructive arthritis) | | | | (Rejuvenation) of the bodily tissue to regain and |
| - Scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine to the | | | | maintain natural strength and vitality. |
| left or right) | | | | The strength of Ayurveda in the area of spinal |
| - Spinal Stenosis (compression of the spinal nerves) | | | | ailments is globally appreciated. Since it addresses the |
| - Spinal Tumor (benign or malignant/cancer) | | | | root cause of the issue the results are better than |
| Symptoms of Lumbago | | | | surgical procedures. |
| Listed below are common symptoms of lumbago. | | | | The therapies like Abyanga swedam, Pathrapotala |
| Keep in mind that the primary symptom is low back | | | | swedam, Choornapinda swedam, Pizhichil, Kativasthy, |
| pain. | | | | Navarakizhi, Vasti (Kashaya and Anuvasana) etc. are |
| - Low back pain may radiate into the buttocks, back | | | | done as per the necessity and severity of the |
| of the thigh, into the groin. | | | | condition. These therapies are directed towards |
| - Back pain (lumbago) may be aggravated during | | | | relieving the inflammatory changes, releasing the |
| movement. Pain from bending forward, backward or | | | | spasms and nerve compressions in the affected area, |
| side-to-side may limit activity. | | | | strengthening the supportive tissues holding the spine |
| - Spinal muscle spasms cause the back to feel stiff | | | | joints, nourishing the joints through improving the |
| and sore. | | | | circulation. Usually the treatment period is 3 – 5 |
| - Back pain and muscle spasm can be so acute that | | | | weeks according to the severity of the disease. |
| posture is affected. The patient may appear to be | | | | Apart from medical management Diet, Life style |
| listing to one side. | | | | modifications and Yogasanas if required are advised |
| - Lumbago may cause tingling sensations to be felt in | | | | according to the necessity. |
| the low back, buttocks, and legs. | | | | In four to six weeks, the majority of patients find |
| Rarely does lumbago cause serious symptoms that | | | | their symptoms are relieved without surgery. If |
| require immediate medical care. However, the | | | | patient can come for the treatment in early stages, |
| following warning signs are good to know: | | | | even total cure without recurrence is also possible. |