Homeopathy is known to effect magical recovery in back pain cases whether resulting from disc complaint, arthritis, injuries or muscle strain. It offers a wide range of highly effective remedies prescribed after detailed analysis and evaluation of symptoms. They are natural and therefore, safe for consumption by all age groups.
Some medicines that are effective in back pain treatment are Rhus Tox, Bryonia Alba, Aesculus Hippocastanum, Kali Carb, Arnica Montana, and Hypericum Perforatum.
Rhus Tox is a top grade medicine for treating back pain. Some characteristic symptoms indicating its use are – the back pain arises from muscle strain due to overstraining or overstretching or from lifting heavy weight, it worsens with rest while the person feels relief from walking or motion. Also, in cases where the back pain gets better with hard pressure, Rhus Tox is the appropriate choice of medicine.
Bryonia Alba is another majorly indicated medicine for treating back pain. A prominent symptom that decides in favour of Bryonia Alba as the best medicine is that the back pain gets worse with motion. Walking also worsens back pain. Rest brings relief. Bryonia Alba is also the most suitable medicine for treating back pain that becomes more severe with stooping and standing.
Aesculus Hippocastanum is a major medicine for back pain affecting the sacrum region. The pain may extend to the hip along with sacrum back. Walking and stooping increase the pain. For some persons needing Aesculus Hippocastanum, rising from a sitting position is a challenge. Intense stiffness is observed in the sacrum and hip region along with the pain.
For back pain in women after childbirth, Kali Carb is considered to be very effective. The pain may get worse on walking and there is a need to stop and take rest before starting to walk again. There is a desire to lie down for relief from back pain. Stiffness or excessive weakness in the back may also attend the pain. Kali Carb is also useful for back pain in women during menses or after a miscarriage.
The most effective medicines for treating cervical back pain are Cimicifuga Racemosa and Guaiacum Officinale. The symptoms to look out for while prescribing Cimicifuga Racemosa are – pain, sensitivity in the neck, worsening of pain from pressure. The symptoms for use of Guaiacum Officinale are – stiffness in the cervical back and shoulders, aching pain in the neck.
For treating back pain arising from injury, Arnica Montana and Hypericum Perforatum are rated among the best treatment option. Back pain arising from falls blows – of both recent and remote origin – responds wonderfully well to these medicines. Persons needing Arnica Montana have sore, bruised pain in the back as after being beaten. This may be attended with lameness in the back. The symptoms for use of Hypericum Perforatum are – pain in the back with extreme sensitivity which makes it impossible to walk or stoop. Hypericum Perforatum is most significant medicine for coccyx pain (coccydynia) arising from a fall over the coccyx.
Cobaltum is used where pain in the back is worse in the sitting position. The pain usually radiates from the lower back down the legs and feet. Weakness in the legs may be felt. Walking may relive the back pain. Phosphorus is indicated where prolonged sitting leads to back pain. Weakness in the back may also be felt. Burning sensation in the spine is another feature that may attend.
Colocynthis and Magnesium Phosphorica are very effective medicines for back pain radiating down the legs. Among them, Colocynthis is helpful for back pain radiating down the limbs on the left side. The person needing Colocynthis may get relief from pressure. The pain can be tearing or drawing in nature. Magnesium Phosphorica is indicated for lower back pain that radiates down the right lower limb. The pain can vary from sharp, shooting, lightning-like or cramping in nature. Warm applications may offer some relief from pain.
Kalmia Latifolia and Paris Quadrifolia are top grade medicines for cervical back pain radiating down the arms or hands. The radiating pain is accompanied by weakness, tingling, numbness in the arm or hands where Kalmia Latifolia will work best. Symptoms guiding the use of Paris Quadrifolia are a sensation of weight in the neck, worsening of symptoms from exertion (either mental/physical) and numbness in fingers.
Pain felt anywhere between the cervical to coccyx region along the back is referred to as back pain. The back comprises the vertebrae, intervertebral disc, spinal cord, muscles, ligaments and tendons. The vertebrae are bony structures d include 7 cervical, 12 dorsal, 5 thoracic, 5 sacral and 4 coccygeal vertebrae. The intervertebral discs are flexible, cartilage structures. One intervertebral disc lies between two vertebrae. These intervertebral discs act as cushions to absorb shock and maintain flexibility of the spine. The vertebrae collectively make the vertebral column with the vertebral canal running through its length in the centre. The spinal cord is enclosed between the vertebral canal. The cause of back pain can lie in any of these structures that form the back. The lower back, however, is most vulnerable.
The upper, middle or lower back may be affected. The upper back includes the cervical (neck) region; mid-back includes the dorsal region; and the lower back includes the lumbar, sacral and coccyx region. A major symptom that may accompany the pain is stiffness of the back. In case of pain in the cervical back, pain from neck may radiate down the arms. This may be attended with numbness, tingling in hands. Pain from the lower back may radiate down the lower limbs. This may also be attended with numbness, tingling and increased sensitivity in lower limbs. Other symptoms may include weakness in the back, lower limbs or upper limbs.
Among the various causes behind back pain, the major ones include disc bulge, osteoarthritis, muscle strain, trauma and degenerative disc disease. Disc bulge refers to slipping of the intervertebral disc from its place. Osteoarthritis of the back refers to degenerative changes in the bones, disc, cartilage or joint of back. Muscle strain refers to overstretching of muscle arising from overuse, fatigue or lifting heavy weights. Degenerative disc disease refers to damage, dryness or breakage of the intervertebral disc mainly because of age-related wear and tear or from injury.
Back pain investigation includes X-ray, MRI and CT scan. X-ray reveals any changes in the backbone. MRI and CT scan diagnose changes in the disc, muscles, ligaments, tendons of the back.
Back pain can affect a person of any age group. However, back pain from degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis is most common in elderly people as these arise from age-related degenerative changes.
Lower back pain radiating down the lower limbs basically indicates sciatica which may arise from compression, pinching or irritation of the sciatic nerve in the back. The various causes of sciatica include spinal stenosis, disc bulge, disc degeneration, bone spurs, and spondylolisthesis.
Pain in the cervical back that radiates down to the arms could be caused by pinching of nerves in the cervical region. Nerves in the cervical region could get pinched due to a disc bulge, herniated disc, cervical spondylosis, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis.
Homeopathy works wonders in lower back pain arising from disc bulge and helps avoid surgery is many such cases. However, the help offered by medicines in such cases and the extent of recovery depends on the severity of the case (mild/moderate/severe disc bulge).
Physiotherapy does play an important role in managing back pain, but to completely cure back pain. But to get it cured a proper evaluation and treatment are needed. Both physiotherapy and medicines must go hand in hand for effective results.
In most cases, back pain does not indicate a serious condition and does not require urgent medical aid. However, bowel/bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in legs together with back pain needs urgent attention as it may be an indication of the cauda equina syndrome, which is an emergency condition.
Adopting some basic lifestyle measures can go a long way in managing back pain. Some of these are:
